Government accepts the involuntary resignation of the national director of Childhood

The President of the Republic, José Antonio Kast Rist, accepted the non-voluntary resignation of Claudio Alfonso Castillo Castillo from the position of National Director of the National Service for Specialized Protection of Children and Adolescents. The decision is recorded in Decree No. 11, of the Ministry of Social Development and Family, published in the Official Gazette No. 44,554 on Monday, September 21, 2026 (official reference: CVE 2869549). The departure of the senior executive became effective on August 8, 2026.

The decree was issued in Santiago on August 11, 2026, and bears the signatures of Kast Rist and the Minister of Social Development and Family, María Jesús Wulf Le May; the communication to the service is signed by the Undersecretary for Children, Marcelo Sánchez Ahumada. The act is based, among other regulations, on Article 32 of the Political Constitution, Law No. 20,530, Law No. 21,302—which creates the service—and Law No. 19,882, which regulates the new personnel policy for public officials.

Castillo Castillo had been appointed head of the service through Supreme Decree No. 6 of 2024, from the same ministry, effective from September 2, 2024. The agency is responsible for the specialized protection of children and adolescents; therefore, the removal of its highest national authority directly affects the leadership of the child protection system.

A removal by request for resignation

Article 148 of the Administrative Statute provides that, in positions of exclusive trust, removal is made effective through a request for resignation formulated by the President of the Republic or the authority called upon to make the appointment. In this case, the Minister of Social Development and Family, by order of the President, requested the non-voluntary resignation effective from August 5, 2026.

By letter dated August 7, 2026, Castillo Castillo submitted his non-voluntary resignation from the position, effective from August 8, 2026. The decree accepts that resignation in its first article, effective from the same date.

Without disciplinary proceedings and with compensation

The administrative act contains accessory provisions regarding the situation of the outgoing executive:

• It is noted that Claudio Alfonso Castillo Castillo is not subject to any disciplinary proceedings.
• It is established that he will be entitled to the compensation provided for in Article 154 of Decree with Force of Law No. 29 of 2004, of the Ministry of Finance, which sets the consolidated text of the Administrative Statute.
• It is ordered to send a copy of the act to the National Service for Specialized Protection of Children and Adolescents, the National Directorate of the Civil Service, the Department of Personnel Management and Development, the Cabinet of the Undersecretariat for Children, and the Ministerial Registry Office.

Invoked Regulatory Background

The recitals of Decree No. 11 list the legal framework applied to the removal:

• Article 32 of the Political Constitution of the Republic.
• Law No. 20,530, which creates the Ministry of Social Development and Family.
• Decree with Force of Law No. 29, of 2004, of the Ministry of Finance (Administrative Statute).
• Decree with Force of Law No. 1-19,653, on the General Bases of State Administration.
• Law No. 19,882, on senior public management, and Law No. 21,302, which creates the service.
• Law No. 21,796, on the Public Sector Budget for 2026, and Resolution No. 36, of 2024, of the Comptroller General of the Republic.

The publication closes with the standard formula: “Be it noted, recorded, communicated, and published,” signed by President Kast Rist and Minister Wulf Le May.

The departure of the National Director leaves the leadership of the service created by Law No. 21,302—responsible for the specialized protection of children and adolescents—headless, within a context of high public sensitivity. The decree does not designate a replacement; therefore, the acting appointment or the naming of a new titular head must be resolved through a subsequent act of the Ministry of Social Development and Family.

Source: Official Gazette of the Republic of Chile, No. 44,554, Monday, September 21, 2026, Section I (General Norms), pp. 1-2 (official reference: CVE 2869549).