Biden Administration
Allen left as a partner at Finsbury Glover Hering (FGH) when President Biden appointed her as assistant secretary of state for global public affairs on August 25,2021. [13] [14] She was sworn in on September 13,2021. [15] Allen has been a central figure in U.S. government's efforts to both combat disinformation surrounding the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and increase support for the Ukrainian people and their government in their war with the Russians. [16]
On April 4,2022,secretary of state Antony Blinken delegated to her the functions and authorities of the under secretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs. [2] On January 23,2023,President Biden nominated Allen for the permanent role of undersecretary. [17] A hearing on her nomination was held before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on March 15,2023. The committee favorably reported her nomination to the Senate on May 3,2023. [18] On June 12,2023,the United States Senate invoked cloture on her nomination by a 66–29 vote. [19] On June 13,2023,Allen was confirmed by a 66–33 vote. [20]
Since her confirmation as the Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy,Liz Allen has focused on advancing U.S. foreign policy through strategic communication,cultural exchanges,and countering foreign malign influence. [21] Her tenure has involved a proactive approach to harnessing innovative technologies,particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI),for modernizing public diplomacy initiatives. Notably,she participated in the Krach Institute's Annual Tech Freedom Summit on November 8,2023,alongside Michelle Guida,the former acting senior state official for public diplomacy under the Trump Administration,emphasizing the role of emerging technology and AI in public diplomacy. [22]
Under Secretary Allen has concentrated on enhancing the scope of cultural and exchange programs under the Educational and Cultural Affairs Bureau. On September 27,2023,the Bureau,under her guidance,launched the State Department Global Music Diplomacy Initiative,using music as a diplomatic tool to support U.S. foreign policy goals. This initiative was inaugurated with a high-profile event featuring Quincy Jones,who received the inaugural Peace Through Music Award. [23] Furthermore,Allen has strengthened U.S. global youth programs,as evidenced by her participation in the Mandela Washington Fellowship Summit for Young African Leaders on August 2,2023,and the commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) in Bali,Indonesia,on December 4,2023. [24] [25] On December 15,2023,her team facilitated the expanded Memorandum of Understanding between the Smithsonian Institute and the State Department,aiming to enhance cultural,educational,and scientific collaboration. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of the Smithsonian Lonnie G. Bunch III signed the expanded memoranda on behalf of their respective organization. [26] [27]
Allen has also emphasized strengthening the Department's communication strategies to effectively counter foreign malign influence and disinformation. This included the establishment of bilateral partnerships through the Department’s Global Engagement Center. Efforts under her leadership include the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mariya Gabriel on September 25,2023,to combat disinformation and media manipulation in Central and Eastern Europe. [28] She also launched the inaugural U.S.-ROK Public Diplomacy Dialogue and signed an MOU with the Republic of Korea on December 1,2023,alongside ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister for Public Affairs Ambassador Hong Seok-in,focusing on countering foreign information manipulation. [29] Additionally,on December 6,2023,Allen signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with Japan,in partnership with Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Press Secretary,Assistant Minister,and Director-General for Press and Public Diplomacy Kobayashi Maki,to address the regional and global threat of information manipulation. [30]
Throughout her term as Under Secretary,Allen has traveled extensively,representing the United States,and engaging with foreign dignitaries,international forums,and local communities. Her travels have included visits to France,Fiji,Vanuatu,Australia,Norway,Bulgaria,the Czech Republic,the Republic of Korea,Indonesia,Japan,and culminated in the opening of the U.S.-ASEAN Center at the Arizona State University Barrett &O'Connor Washington Center in Washington,D.C. These visits underscored the U.S.'s commitment to building global understanding and cooperation,and the importance of ASEAN countries in U.S. foreign policy. [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] [36]
