State Department spokesperson Ned Price to step down

“I started as a public servant as an analyst at the CIA, and I ended up in this job because of a series of accidents, fateful accidents,” Price told NBC News. “I have loved being in this line of work for the past several years. And one of the things I love most about it is the connection to the policy.”

Price previously worked as a CIA analyst and served as a spokesperson on for the National Security Council during the Obama administration.

In his statement, Blinken particularly thanked Price for bringing back the department’s daily press briefings, which were irregular during the Trump administration, praising Price for “giving journalists the chance to regularly ask tough questions of our policy.”

“Ned has helped the U.S. government defend and promote press freedom around the globe and modeled the transparency and openness we advocate for in other countries,” Blinken added. “His contributions will benefit the Department long after his service.”

Vedant Patel, Price’s current deputy, will serve as his temporary replacement, the State Department official said.