The State Department announced spokesman Ned Price will step down from his role later in the month to take a new position within the administration.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a statement Tuesday night saying that Price will step down “this month” after having served as the face of the department’s communications operation since President Joe Biden was sworn into office in January 2021. Price will remain within the State Department, taking on a new unspecified role working directly for Blinken, the secretary said.
Since day one as Spokesperson, Ned Price has been a voice for U.S. foreign policy, modeled transparency and integrity, and promoted press freedom around the world. Fortunate I’ll be able to continue to rely on him as trusted advisor in his new role. pic.twitter.com/cB0mTTwwNt
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) March 8, 2023
“Within days of taking on the role, he restored the Department’s daily press briefings, giving journalists the chance to regularly ask tough questions of our policy. Throughout the more than 200 briefings he has since held, he’s treated journalists – as well as colleagues and everyone else he interacts with – with respect,” Blinken said. “Ned’s firm grasp of the policies underlying our messaging made him that much more effective in his role. On a personal level, I have constantly benefited from his counsel, as have so many members of the Department.” (RELATED: State Department Allegedly Funded ‘Disinformation’ Blacklists, Flagged Accounts For Executives, Twitter Files Show)
The State Department has not said who will replace Price on a permanent basis. For the time being, Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel will take over Price’s role.