A key member of Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s inner circle is leaving the Trump administration, marking another personnel shake-up in Washington just days before the November 3 midterm elections.
Jeremy Lewin, the 29-year-old director of policy planning at the State Department, announced Tuesday that he is stepping away from government service and returning to the private sector.
His departure comes after a rapid rise through the administration, from working with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to helping shape American foreign policy toward Venezuela and Cuba.
Lewin confirmed the decision in a statement posted on X, thanking President Donald Trump and Rubio for entrusting him with major responsibilities.
“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,” he wrote.
The outgoing official also praised Trump’s approach to international affairs.
“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,” Lewin continued.
Although Lewin did not identify his next employer, he indicated that he intends to remain supportive of the administration’s agenda outside government.
His exit removes an influential adviser at a consequential moment for American diplomacy.
According to Axios, Lewin was among Rubio’s principal advisers on Venezuela and Cuba, two countries that have received considerable attention from the administration.
Following the January 3 capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro by American forces, Lewin helped guide Washington’s efforts to develop a new diplomatic relationship with Venezuela.
He also participated in discussions concerning Cuba, where the administration has combined economic pressure on the communist government with diplomatic engagement.
Those assignments placed Lewin close to some of the administration’s most sensitive foreign policy decisions.
But his influence extended well beyond Latin America.
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 major changes to America’s foreign assistance programs following the administration’s decision to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development.
The restructuring represented one of the most significant changes to the federal government’s international aid operations.
Lewin initially entered the administration through DOGE, where he became involved in efforts to reduce spending and reorganize government functions.
His responsibilities eventually expanded to overseeing changes affecting USAID personnel and programs.
Some assistance initiatives eliminated during the restructuring were subsequently restored, redesigned or transferred to State Department oversight.
Lewin’s involvement in those decisions also attracted scrutiny.
A WIRED investigation raised questions about his federal employment documentation while he was exercising authority over USAID personnel matters in 2025.
According to internal records examined by the publication, the agency’s human resources systems did not initially recognize Lewin as an employee despite his involvement in significant administrative decisions, per Trending Politics.
Lewin disputed suggestions that he lacked proper authorization.
He maintained that he had been lawfully appointed and possessed valid federal employment credentials and security clearance.
He also said the documentation confusion was eventually resolved.
There is no publicly established connection between that controversy and his decision to leave the administration.
His departure announcement did not suggest a falling-out with Trump or Rubio. Instead, Lewin offered a positive assessment of his government service and expressed gratitude toward both men.
Still, the exit represents a notable change within Rubio’s leadership team as the State Department continues handling sensitive diplomatic matters involving Latin America and American foreign assistance.
Lewin has not publicly disclosed where he plans to work next.
For now, his announcement closes a relatively brief but influential chapter in the administration, one that took him from government restructuring efforts to a prominent role in shaping Trump’s foreign policy agenda.
