On December 16, 2016, the Department temporarily debarred European Adoption Consultants, Inc. (EAC) for a period of three years. As part of the debarment process, EAC was given an opportunity to dispute the Department’s temporary debarment action. EAC requested a hearing and presented its case through written submissions and an administrative hearing held October 23-26, 2017. On December 13, 2017, Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Carl Risch upheld the Department’s temporary debarment of EAC. The temporary debarment will remain in effect until December 15, 2019, at which time EAC may apply to the Secretary for withdrawal of the debarment. In the interim, EAC is prohibited from providing any adoption services in any intercountry adoption cases.