A senior State Department official who helped shape several of President Donald Trump’s most significant foreign policy initiatives is leaving the administration, marking the departure of an influential figure within Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s inner circle.
The announcement comes less than a week before the November 3 midterm elections, as the White House continues navigating major diplomatic challenges involving Latin America, economic sanctions, and the restructuring of American foreign assistance programs.
The departing official played a central role in implementing Trump’s foreign policy agenda, working on sensitive diplomatic matters involving Venezuela and Cuba while helping oversee sweeping changes to the federal government’s international aid operations.
Jeremy Lewin, the 29-year-old director of policy planning at the State Department, announced Tuesday that he is leaving government service to return to the private sector. His departure concludes a tenure that saw him rise from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency to one of the department’s most influential policy positions.
“After nearly two years, I am leaving the @StateDept to return to the private sector. It has been the privilege of a lifetime to work for @POTUS Trump and @SecRubio, and I’m eternally grateful for their trust in me to execute their foreign policy vision,” Lewin wrote on X.
“President Trump has put decades of post-Cold War malaise behind us — permanently transforming US foreign policy to put Americans first, keep them safe, and drive peace and shared prosperity in key regions,” he continued.
Lewin also expressed his intention to continue supporting the administration as a private citizen. According to Axios, Lewin was among Rubio’s key advisers on American policy toward Venezuela and Cuba, two countries that have occupied prominent positions in the administration’s Western Hemisphere strategy.
Jeremy P. Lewin
Following the January 3 capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro by American forces, Lewin helped shape Washington’s efforts to establish a new diplomatic relationship with Venezuela. He also participated in discussions involving Cuba, where the Trump administration has maintained economic pressure on the communist government while pursuing diplomatic engagement.
Before becoming director of policy planning in August, Lewin served as acting under secretary of state for foreign assistance, humanitarian affairs and religious freedom. In that position, he helped oversee the restructuring of American foreign assistance following the administration’s decision to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Lewin initially joined the administration through DOGE, becoming one of the younger officials entrusted with implementing Trump’s government restructuring agenda. Several foreign assistance programs eliminated during that process were subsequently restored, redesigned, or transferred to State Department oversight.
His departure also follows a WIRED investigation that raised questions about his federal employment documentation while he exercised authority over USAID personnel decisions in 2025. The report cited internal records indicating that USAID’s human resources systems did not initially recognize Lewin as an employee, despite his involvement in major agency decisions.
Lewin disputed the implications of those findings, maintaining that he was properly appointed and possessed valid federal employment status and security clearance. He said the paperwork confusion was subsequently resolved.
There is no publicly established connection between the investigation and his decision to leave the administration.
Lewin’s exit removes a prominent adviser from Rubio’s team as Washington continues managing its evolving relationships with Venezuela and Cuba. Although Lewin is expected to return to the private sector, the identity of his next employer has not been publicly disclosed.
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[ H/T Trending Politics ]
