The Bureau of Global Public Affairs (GPA) is the State Department bureau that plans and executes the Department’s strategic communications to U.S. and international audiences. GPA’s mission is to explain U.S. foreign‑policy priorities and diplomacy, engage domestic and foreign media, produce digital and video content, run Foreign Press Centers and regional media hubs, and provide research/analytics, public engagement, events, and platform strategy to shape global narratives about U.S. policy.
No — the Assistant Secretary for Global Public Affairs is a presidential appointment that does not require Senate confirmation (the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs position was removed from the Senate-confirmation list under the Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act of 2011).
The State Department notice says Johnson will continue leading NSC national‑security communications while serving as Assistant Secretary; the exact division of duties, schedules, and reporting lines isn’t public. Dual roles like this typically require coordination between agencies and clear agreements on which office speaks for which policy area; specifics for Johnson were not disclosed in the announcement.
Typical duties: a Special Assistant to the President is a senior White House staffer who advises the president, coordinates policy or communications work, and manages stakeholder contacts and messaging; an Assistant White House Communications Director oversees development and execution of communications strategy, supervises messaging on assigned portfolios (here, national security), and coordinates with agencies and press teams.
The Office of Presidential Advance organizes and manages the President’s travel and public appearances—planning logistics, security coordination, venue messaging, timing, and local engagement. When Johnson served there (per the State release) he would have supported advance planning and coordination for presidential events and travel operations.
It is common for campaign communications staff to receive senior communications posts after a successful campaign or when the candidate becomes president; appointments reward loyalty and bring trusted message‑makers into government. Concerns include potential partisan messaging, patronage, rapid hiring of political loyalists over career professionals, and ethics/recusal issues; incentives are quicker policy alignment and trusted coordination across political and communications teams.