A senior State Department official overseeing African affairs is stepping down, marking the latest high-profile departure from the Trump administration.
Ambassador Fitrell, who has served as the leading diplomat for the Bureau of African Affairs, will be replaced by Jonathan Pratt, the bureau’s principal deputy assistant secretary. Fitrell’s departure comes as the Senate-confirmed assistant secretary position for the African bureau remains unfilled.
Leadership Transition at State Department
Pratt previously served as United States ambassador to Djibouti from 2021 to 2023 and held diplomatic posts in Pakistan, Sudan, and Angola. He will assume the senior bureau official role following Fitrell’s exit.
Fitrell, a foreign service diplomat with over 30 years of experience, previously served as U.S. ambassador to Guinea and held positions directing the offices of Western and Southern African Affairs. He also served as deputy chief of mission at U.S. embassies in Ethiopia and Mauritius.
During his tenure, Fitrell noted that the Trump administration is redirecting U.S. policy in Africa from one centered on development assistance toward a strategy emphasizing commercial engagement.
Other Recent Departures
Fitrell’s departure represents the second significant exit from the administration in recent weeks. Admiral Alvin Holsey, commander of U.S. Southern Command overseeing operations in Central and South America, is stepping down after less than a year into his tenure.
The admiral is retiring at year’s end despite leading the Pentagon’s deployment of approximately 10,000 troops for counternarcotics and counterterrorism operations. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth released a statement expressing gratitude for Holsey’s 37 years of service without addressing the circumstances of his departure.
Two U.S. officials speaking anonymously indicated Holsey had expressed concerns about the regional mission and operations targeting vessels alleged to be involved in drug smuggling. Some Pentagon officials cited policy tensions over Venezuela as contributing factors to the admiral’s decision.
Attorney General Nomination Announced
President Trump announced plans to nominate acting Attorney General Todd Blanche as his permanent attorney general during remarks at a Rose Garden dinner. “Tomorrow I’m instructing Dan and everybody else that’s involved in that very complicated process, which is gonna go I think very quickly, that we are going to make him permanent attorney general,” Trump said in a video posted to X by adviser Dan Scavino.
Blanche has served as attorney general on an acting basis for two months following the dismissal of Pam Bondi. The former personal attorney and legal defender of Trump has worked to establish himself within the administration’s law enforcement leadership since assuming the role.
This story has been updated. CNN’s staff contributed to this report.
