Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Tom Shannon has spent nearly 35 years in the Foreign Service, much of it in top positions dealing with Latin America. | Ahn Young-jonn/AP Photo Amid low morale, highest-ranked career official at State to step down

The highest-ranked career official at the State Department will retire in the coming months, a decision that comes as the Trump administration faces several global challenges and amid unusually low morale among U.S. diplomats.

Tom Shannon, the undersecretary of state for political affairs, told the department in an email on Thursday that his decision was “personal, and driven by a desire to attend to my family, take stock of my life, and set a new direction for my remaining years.”


Shannon has spent nearly 35 years in the Foreign Service, much of it in top positions dealing with Latin America. He has been a key source of advice to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, a former ExxonMobil CEO who came to the State Department with no formal diplomatic experience.

Shannon’s presence has offered some reassurance to U.S. diplomats startled by the ups and downs of the Trump administration, particularly President Donald Trump’s unpredictable approach to foreign policy. As crises have loomed in places such as North Korea and throughout the Middle East, career officials like Shannon have offered counsel on how to navigate difficult diplomatic waters.

Shannon’s retirement was first reported by CNN and The Associated Press, which also wrote that Tillerson had asked Shannon to stay on.

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“There will always be a place for Tom Shannon at the State Department,” Tillerson told the media outlets, adding he would miss Shannon’s “encyclopedic” knowledge of U.S. diplomacy. “He is the senior statesman.”

Shannon told The AP that other factors that contributed to his decision included the recent death of his mother and the fact that he turned 60.

But Shannon has agreed to stay in his position until a successor is named and to ensure a smooth transition for his replacement. It’s not clear when exactly that will be, given the Trump administration’s slowness in appointing people to leadership positions at State. The undersecretary job also requires Senate confirmation.

The numerous vacancies at the top have been among the reasons many Foreign Service and Civil Service employees at State have been unhappy over the past year. Trump’s proposal to slash the department’s budget and Tillerson’s attempts to trim staff also have contributed to unhappiness.

The State Department’s “senior ranks will feel Shannon’s departure acutely — so few are left,” said Ben Chang, a former Foreign Service officer. “He brought consistency, stability and coherence.”

As news spread of Shannon’s impending retirement, current and former State Department employees also wondered whether Tillerson would push to appoint another career staffer to the undersecretary job, or whether he, after talks with the White House, would opt to fill it with an outside political appointee.

In his email, Shannon praised his fellow diplomats, saying, “I have been humbled by your generosity of spirit, your courage in confronting the dangers and risks inherent in our profession, and your joyful embrace of a life spent far from home and hearth.”

“As with each of you, my service has been defined by our oath of office and the commitment we make to protect and defend our Constitution, our institutions, and our values,” he added.

Shannon also said it was a privilege to have served six presidents and 10 secretaries of state, all of whom, he wrote, “have been extraordinary public servants and great Americans.”

Shannon attained the rare status of “career ambassador” during his time in the Foreign Service. He’s done stints on the National Security Council and also served as assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere Affairs.

State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert called Shannon a “patriot.”

“We are all grateful to Undersecretary Shannon for his leadership and service to our country,” she said.

Daniel Lippman contributed to this report.

