A behind-the-scenes 'bully' in the State Department is the perfect example of the mess that is the T
A behind-the-scenes 'bully' in the State Department is the perfect example of the mess that is the Trump administration
Brett Bruen, Opinion Columnist 1 hour ago
rian Bulatao is a "bully." That was the shocking picture painted by former State Department Inspector General Steven Linick during an inquiry into his dismissal by the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives.
Bulatao's official title is the Undersecretary of State for Management. But based on Linick's testimony to the committee, it seems Bulatao serves more as his boss' Mike Pompeo's attack dog.
Linick's description of Bulatao, along with stories I've heard from former colleagues at the State Department, make it clear that the longtime friend of Pompeo's is helping run the department under a cloud of intimidation. And that was before the independent Inspector General was booted out.
. . .
One of the best State Department reporters, Politico's Nahal Toosi, just did a profile where she describes Bulatao as Pompeo's "enforcer" and quotes a Democratic staffer on Capitol Hill saying, "all roads seem to go through Mr. Bulatao, his close friend." So it's clear not much gets done in Foggy Bottom that he does not control.
More:
https://www.businessinsider.com/brian-bulatao-shows-whats-wrong-state-department-trump-administration-2020-6
"Secretary Pompeo Swears in Brian Bulatao as the new Under Secretary of State for Management"
Brian Bulatao (center), then the CIA's chief operating officer, attends CIA Director Gina Haspel's confirmation hearing with then-Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Sue Gordon (left) and Susan Pompeo (right), wife of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. | Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
