Meta's Longtime Policy Chief Joel Kaplan to Exit, Ceding Power to Dina Powell McCormick

Key points

• Kaplan, a former Bush administration official, will leave Meta next year after serving as a key policy adviser since 2011.
• He was promoted to chief global affairs officer in January 2025 and influenced policies on speech, misinformation, and AI.
• Zuckerberg praised Kaplan as a 'friend' and a strong advocate for the company's free-expression principles.
• Kaplan will stay through the midterms to help transition responsibilities to new executives, including Dina Powell McCormick and C.J. Mahoney.
• The departure marks the end of a 15-year era for Meta's Washington lobbying and public relations strategy.

Background

Kaplan joined Facebook in 2011, helping build its U.S. policy team from scratch. He has navigated Meta through multiple changes in congressional and White House control, protecting the company's ad business model from regulatory attacks. His departure coincides with Meta's push into AI infrastructure and a new optimistic tone on AI's potential.

How outlets are covering it

Politico and Axios both confirm Kaplan's departure, but Axios provides more detail on the transition and the new leadership team. Axios emphasizes Kaplan's role in protecting Meta's ad business and his advocacy for free-expression principles, while Politico focuses on his influence on policies regarding speech, misinformation, and AI. Both outlets agree that Kaplan's departure marks a significant shift in Meta's policy and lobbying strategy.

Why it matters

Kaplan's exit signals a major shift in Meta's approach to policy and lobbying, as the company transitions to a new leadership team with diverse political backgrounds. This could impact how Meta navigates regulatory challenges and public relations in the coming years.

What to watch

Kaplan will remain at Meta through the midterms to oversee the transition, with Dina Powell McCormick, C.J. Mahoney, Brian Rice, and Tucker Bounds taking on new policy and communications roles. Meta is expected to continue its push into AI infrastructure and maintain a positive tone on AI's potential.