> During the conversation, Dario expressed appreciation for the Department’s work and thanked the Secretary for his service Ouch, I wonder how he rationalized

> During the conversation, Dario expressed appreciation for the Department’s work and thanked the Secretary for his service Ouch, I wonder how he rationalized that "service" part. Maybe by internally rewriting it to "thank you for all the positive things you have done in your position so far"? The empty set is rhetorically convenient.