Federal Agency for Civic Education shifts focus under new leadership

The Federal Agency for Civic Education (bpb) has undergone a leadership change following the departure of President Sönke Rix after only five months in office. Rix resigned for personal reasons, ending a tenure that began in March 2026.

Dr. Volker Ullrich, a former CSU member of the Bundestag, has taken over as acting head of the agency effective August 1, 2026. Under Ullrich's leadership, the agency announced a strategic shift to focus more heavily on its core mandate of combating extremism. This includes a heightened focus on left-wing extremism and Islamism.

Ullrich described the agency's role as a form of “intellectual constitutional protection,” stating that the bpb will prioritize established formats related to its core mission over other offerings to address issues of state stability and capacity.