Jeremy Lewin departs US State Department policy role

Jeremy Lewin, the US State Department’s director of policy planning, announced on Tuesday that he is leaving his position to return to the private sector. Lewin, a 29-year-old former staffer of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), served as a top adviser to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

During his nearly two years in government, Lewin played a central role in overhauling US foreign assistance. He was a leading figure in the closure of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), a move justified by President Donald Trump and Musk as a measure against waste, fraud, and abuse. While the agency was closed, Lewin oversaw the subsequent process of restoring or revamping certain programs under the State Department while serving as acting under secretary of state for foreign assistance, humanitarian affairs, and religious freedom.

Lewin’s recent work focused on US policy toward Venezuela and Cuba. This follows significant shifts in regional dynamics, including the US military's capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in January and Washington's control over Venezuelan oil proceeds to prevent them from reaching Cuba.