Following Donald Trump’s recent election victory, the Biden-Harris State Department evidently felt the need to hold what amounted to a group therapy session for its employees. Early on Friday, according to sources, the department’s Employee Consultation Services offered a one-hour session on “Managing stress during change.” An internal email encouraged staff to participate, promising an exploration into “stress management techniques” to help them navigate the apparent “challenging times.”
According to insiders, the meeting was less about practical strategies and more a space to vent frustrations over the election results. It was hosted by a licensed clinical provider, with a second session already on the books for November 13. For a State Department that oversees sensitive global matters, these sessions might seem, to put it mildly, a curious use of time and resources.
Adding to the display, the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs—which handles U.S. diplomacy in the always-complex Middle East—held its own discussion led by senior officials. Word has it that the atmosphere was more group therapy than strategic planning, with staff airing their concerns about the incoming administration. For months, these same officials had been pushing for sanctions against the Israeli government while withholding arms shipments, supposedly in a bid to secure more humanitarian aid in Gaza. Now, facing an administration that takes a different view on the U.S.-Israel relationship, the bureau seemed to be in collective mourning.
One U.S. official, perhaps a bit exasperated by the State Department’s focus on feelings over foreign policy, quipped that this meeting would hopefully be the last of its kind, labeling the event as “the last gasp” of what they saw as the Biden-Harris era’s preoccupation with emotion over action. This official also offered a blunt assessment of the current state of the department, suggesting there’s “lots to unf—k” after four years of what they consider misplaced priorities.
In a department tasked with advancing American interests abroad, some are viewing these “stress management” sessions as a signal that it’s time to redirect focus. With the next administration gearing up to shift gears, some at the State Department may find themselves trading feelings sessions for a sharper focus on policy and diplomacy.
