The Foreign Service Journal

06/11/2025

“I have represented the United States in multiple countries, in meetings where my voice—the voice of the American people—is respected, where we set the priorities.

“𝗜𝗻 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝘄𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗨.𝗦. 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 and offered families a path to economic success, reducing their chances of being recruited into violent extremist organizations.

“We supported youth seeking opportunities in agriculture, helping them build lives at home instead of turning to migration.

“𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻.”

Read on in the June cover story, “What We’ve Lost: Firsthand Accounts from the Field.”

🔗 https://afsa.org/what-weve-lost-firsthand-accounts-field

| USAID - US Agency for International Development

06/03/2025

Now online: the June 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘯 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘑𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭 focuses on economic diplomacy, from tariff turbulence to critical minerals exchange & the dynamics of the Quad.

In this edition, find …

📈“Advancing U.S. Economic Interests Overseas in an Era of Rising Tariffs,” on economic statecraft, today
📈“FAS: Agricultural Economic Diplomacy in Action,” on the exports that account for more than 20 percent of U.S. farm income
📈“Fortifying Minerals Diplomacy: Four Nations, Four Solutions,” on the diplomatic alliance between the U.S., India, Japan, and Australia
📈Our second compilation: “What We’ve Lost: Firsthand Accounts from the Field”
📈“Earning American Credentials Abroad,” an explainer for FS families with college-bound kids

+ more. Read the full edition here 🔗 https://ow.ly/tFuI50W1EcT

04/14/2025

Now online: the April-May Foreign Service Journal focuses on the evolution of U.S.- relations in honor of the 30th anniversary of restored diplomatic relations, the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon, and the 80th anniversary of Vietnam’s independence. Also inside …

🔸“Lives Upended”: a compilation of personal accounts revealing the effects of USAID’s dismantling
🔸New FS Know-How: A Brief RIF Explainer
🔸Requiem for the Voice of America

+ more. Read the full edition here🔗 https://afsa.org/foreign-service-journal-aprilmay2025

03/28/2025

“About 120 miles northwest of Johannesburg, Pilanesberg National Park sits within the crater of an ancient volcano."

Get a closer look at this early-morning scene from South Africa in the March by Michael Roome.

🔗https://afsa.org/sites/default/files/flipping_book/0325/78/index.html

03/18/2025

USAGM, which includes the Voice of America, is a vital tool of U.S. foreign policy and national security, playing a key role in promoting American interests, democracy, and press freedom around the world.

Read the full statement: https://afsa.org/afsa-statement-dismantling-us-agency-global-media

03/05/2025

Now online (and in the mail): the March Foreign Service Journal features our third “Notes to the New Administration” compilation, plus:

🖊️Defending and the — the American Foreign Service Association's legal response
🖊️A conversation with special representative Nina Hachigian on
🖊️How to “bridge the interagency gap” between military and FS personnel
🖊️Foundational skills for all professionals — cultural competency for effective communications

+ more. Read the full edition here 🔗 https://afsa.org/foreign-service-journal-march2025

02/25/2025

members ➡️ American Foreign Service Association recently compiled a new resource to help members be prepared for the unexpected.

See the “Virtual Go Bag” checklist, here: afsa.org/virtual-go-bag

MEMBERS | Every Foreign Service member knows the importance of a Go Bag. You probably have one packed right now. But do you have your employment Go Bag ready? These are the key documents and things you should have in case of a sudden departure.

Make sure you’re prepared for any eventuality & review our “Virtual Go Bag” checklist now: afsa.org/virtual-go-bag

02/18/2025

The is proud to serve as a historical record of the evolution of U.S. and the , since 1919. For breaking news, be sure to bookmark the American Foreign Service Association’s press center page 📰 https://afsa.org/press 📰 for the latest litigation updates and public statements by our organizational leaders.

02/04/2025

Weakening or eliminating USAID will only help those who seek to undermine American leadership.

Read the full statement: https://afsa.org/statement-afsa-decision-dismantle-usaid

01/30/2025

High in the Andes Mountains and two hours from Santiago, Chile, FSO Martin Claessens shot this image of the Inca Lagoon.

❄️ See it in the January-February (link below).

01/29/2025

Members of the often face unique tax situations—and we understand that it can get complicated. Check out our 2024 Federal in the January-February for valuable information on:

✅ The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) ✅ New tax updates that could impact your filing ✅ Key deadlines and tips for avoiding penalties. Link in comments, below!

01/11/2025

🖋️ Call for input: President Jimmy Carter left an indelible impression on so many in the community. Please share your remembrances for an Appreciation in an upcoming edition of the .

📧 Send up to 300 words and related photos (with your name and Foreign Service affiliation) to [email protected] by Friday, January 17.

Note: All submissions will be attributed. Submissions will be edited for style and clarity. AI-generated content will not be accepted. We cannot guarantee all submissions will be featured, but we will print as many as possible.