WASHINGTON — The State Department has dissolved the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts, or CARE, and reassigned its responsibilities to the Afghanistan Affairs Office, according to an internal reorganization document. The same document also confirms the elimination of the U.S. special representative for Afghanistan.
The changes mark the end of CARE as the lead office coordinating the relocation of Afghan nationals who worked alongside American forces during the 20-year war. The office was established in the aftermath of the 2021 U.S. withdrawal to manage the complex resettlement of at-risk Afghans.
Both developments were included in a State Department document labeled Sensitive but Unclassified, which outlines a wider reshuffling of regional and functional bureaus.
The State Department has not publicly announced the restructuring, and it remains unclear whether a new mechanism will replace the eliminated positions or continue to manage ongoing relocation and reconstruction efforts.
The realignment has raised concerns among former officials and refugee advocates, who warn that dismantling dedicated structures could undermine Washington’s ability to fulfill its commitments to thousands of Afghans still awaiting resettlement or assistance.
