The Ministry of the Interior is undergoing a significant restructuring under the direction of Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt. In a letter to staff, Dobrindt announced the reinstatement of a third state secretary position, filled by Sebastian Wüste. Wüste, previously head of the CSU strategy staff within the Bundestag when Dobrindt served as CSU parliamentary group leader, will be responsible for the Central Department and the Homeland Department, which will be newly designated as the “Department for Democracy and Society.
Several leadership positions within the ministry are also being revamped. Experienced administrator Hendrik Lörges has been appointed head of the Directorate for Management, despite a reduction in its size. Dobrindt stated this change aims to improve the integration of specialist departments into decision-making processes. Lörges previously served as an advisor in the office of Andrea Lindholz, a CSU parliamentarian responsible for Interior Policy within the governing parliamentary group. During the tenure of Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich, he held a spokesperson role for the ministry.
Ulrike Hornung will assume leadership of the Department for Migration, Refugee and Return Policy. Andreas Mom will head the Department of State Law, Constitutional Law and Administrative Law.
Changes in population safety and crisis management are also underway, with Andrea Schumacher taking on the leadership of the Department for Crisis Management and Population Protection. Simultaneously, Arne Schlatmann will lead the Department for the Federal Police. Isabel Schmitt-Falckenberg will take on an undefined role focused on special assignments.
The Ministry’s reorganization reflects a move towards streamlined operations and a renewed focus on key policy areas. Dobrindt’s letter outlined the changes as part of a broader effort to integrate departments and enhance the Ministry’s responsiveness to developing challenges.
