Save The Date
The Second Annual
Ben Franklin Fellowship Reception Dinner
Celebrating Franklin's legacy, The Ben Franklin Fellowship, and the principles of wise diplomacy that safeguard America's security and prosperity.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2026
THE MAYFLOWER HOTEL, WASHINGTON D.C.
6 PMThe Collapse of the Afghan SIV Program
The temporary Afghan Special Immigrant Visa system, created to protect U.S. allies after the fall of Kabul, is now plagued by fraud and weak verification. With Embassy Kabul closed and its fraud prevention team disbanded, fake documents and unqualified applicants have slipped through the cracks. The program should be paused and restructured to restore accountability and protect U.S. security interests.
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Temporary Afghan Special Immigrant Visas Program Untenable
By Civis Legatus, a Consular Professional
About 85% of the world’s primary energy comes from coal, oil, and natural gas, just like it has for the last 50 years
The idea that we are going to reach peak oil demand in the next few years is fanciful at best and thinly veiled propaganda at worst. The only scarcity we face is a lack of imagination, and the only peak we face is peak idiocy by international bureaucracies.
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Peak Oil and Energy Dominance – The IEA Gets it Wrong
Europe’s Migration Crisis
Europe’s migration policies have failed as it is practically impossible to physically remove migrants whose asylum applications are rejected – and only 15% of asylum seekers are found to be bona fide refugees.
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What Europe’s migration crisis means for America
DEI Abuses
Anyone in litigation against State Department regarding DEI abuses, including past employment or promotion discrimination, should contact William Shea. In the report below, Shea provides the BFF community valuable updates on major developments in his legal case.
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Why is the U.S. Attorney's Office Failing to Defend in Court Trump's E.O. Ending DEI in the State Department?
By William Shea
Mindset Shift
Conservative career officials are fighting to break the globalist-woke mindset that is deeply ingrained in the U.S. foreign affairs bureaucracy.
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The Ben Franklin Fellowship’s State Department Renovation
Featured White Paper Series:
Peace Perspectives
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Africa: Building Economic and Security Partnerships
By Chakotay and Sterling Tilley
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Vietnam: A Strategic Partner for Peace and Security in Southeast Asia
By Chakotay
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Southeast Asia: Rebuilding a Peaceful Political-Military Alliance
By Sterling Tilley and Nathan R. Price
BFF Wins Prestigious Heritage Foundation Innovation Prize
$100,000 Grant to Implement the JUNTO Project
Explore our principles
The Ben Franklin Fellowship is a unique foreign affairs community — putting America's national interest first in U.S. diplomacy and international affairs.
Foreign Policy in the U.S. National Interest
Secretary Rubio: The World Over August 7, 2025
Deputy Secretary Landau Speaks on America First Foreign Policy
Vice President Vance Speaks on Gaza, Free Speech & Ukraine During UK Meeting With Lammy
Vice President Vance Speaks at the Southern Border
The First Purpose of Foreign Policy | Michael Anton
President Reagan's Recipe for Peace
Connect With Us
Let us know if you would like to join the Ben Franklin Fellowship and receive email information about our activities. Please tell us something about your foreign policy experience, particularly if you are currently in the Department of State or other U.S. government service. Also notify us if you would like to meet in person with a BFF representative.