One would assume someone in that vast Orwellian maze known as the State department would understand something about protocol. Guess they are either muzzled or nonexistent.
Those who knew anything have likely been replaced with juice box kids.
There are very likely professionals who know protocol.
But remember that the current crop of leftists insist that they are the smartest people in the room - they have always told each other that it is so!
So Kerry likely does not pay much attention to his professional staff, and they are likely to keep their heads low for fear of losing them (figuratively).
The State Department has been pretty left leaning for the last 50 years, in any case.