State Department Employees Greet Clinton

State Department employees greeted Secretary Hillary Clinton warmly during a ceremony this morning to welcome her to the agency.

Afterward, John Naland, president of the American Foreign Service Association told the Federal Diary that "the enthusiastic reception that employees gave to Secretary Clinton at today's welcoming ceremony shows that America's career diplomats are confident that she will be the strong advocate that we have lacked in recent years.

Secretary Clinton inherits a State Department weakened by dramatic staffing and funding gaps. We have staffing shortages averaging 20 percent at U.S. embassies and consulates around the world. In Secretary Clinton, we see a strong leader who is renowned for fighting for what she believes in. As she now turns her attention to diplomacy and development assistance, employees are confident that she will get for us the tools, funding and staffing,that we need to advance America's vital interests overseas."

By Sara Goo  |  January 22, 2009; 3:31 PM ET  | Category:  State Department
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