In a sweeping move aligned with President Donald Trump’s reorganization strategy, the U.S. State Department is set to lay off more than 1,300 employees, a decision that has raised concerns about the U.S.’s global leadership and its ability to address international threats.
On Friday, notices were dispatched to 1,107 civil servants and 246 foreign service officers who work domestically.
A senior department official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed the layoffs. These notifications began shortly after 10 a.m., indicating that affected employees would have their positions ‘abolished’ and lose access to departmental resources, including email and headquarters premises, by 5 p.m. the same day.
Internal communications informed staff to report to work equipped with all department-issued items, from laptops to diplomatic passports.
In the hallways of the State Department, signs directed employees towards areas for returning badges and processing their departure.
A rally is planned for 4 p.m. Friday, where supporters are expected to applaud departing employees, voicing their opposition to the layoffs.
Foreign service officers will be placed on administrative leave for 120 days before officially losing their positions, a separate internal notice indicated.
Civil servants face a separation period of 60 days before their jobs are terminated.
The department stated that these headcount reductions have been executed with a focus on eliminating non-essential roles and duplicative offices.
While the layoffs were praised by President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as necessary for a more streamlined and effective State Department, many current and former diplomats argue that this cutback will undermine U.S. influence and ability to respond to both existing and emerging international challenges.
These layoffs are part of a broader reorganization of the State Department.
The Trump administration has been aggressively pursuing a restructuring of American diplomacy, aiming to reduce government size through significant dismissals and the dissolution of entire departments.
Notably, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which has been in operation for six decades, was absorbed into the State Department just last week following substantial cuts to foreign aid funding.
The Supreme Court’s recent ruling allowed for these layoffs to begin, while legal challenges regarding the legality of these cuts are still ongoing.
The State Department had previously informed staff on Thursday that notifications regarding layoffs would be forthcoming.
Despite the size of the cuts, it was noted that the layoffs were less extensive than initially anticipated.
A letter from the department in May indicated a total workforce of over 18,700 U.S.-based employees and proposed an 18% reduction through layoffs and voluntary departures.
Rubio emphasized that the reorganization was a calculated effort to improve the efficiency and focus of the State Department.
He explained, ‘It’s not a consequence of trying to get rid of people. But if you close the bureau, you don’t need those positions.’
Rubio reassured that some of the positions eliminated would be unfilled ones or those recently vacated due to early retirement.
Critics of the changes contend that they will have detrimental effects on the U.S.’s standing in international affairs.
The American Academy of Diplomacy, which comprises hundreds of former senior diplomats, stated that the layoffs would substantially impair the government’s ability to understand and respond to complex global challenges.
They issued a statement asserting that the decision to significantly cut back the State Department’s operational capacity amounts to an ‘act of vandalism.’
Their critique highlighted the adverse timing of these cuts, given the numerous strategic challenges the U.S. faces from various competitors, along with ongoing conflicts in Central Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
Michael Rigas, the department’s deputy secretary for management and resources, acknowledged the situation in a notification stating, ‘First and foremost, we want to thank them for their dedication and service to the United States.’
He added that once notifications were issued, the Department would move into the final stage of its reorganization, emphasizing a shift towards results-driven diplomacy.
Plans for the reorganization have included substantial cuts beyond those previously mentioned in a communication sent to Congress in May, proposing an 18% reduction of U.S.-based positions and office cutbacks in regard to various programs.
Among the offices earmarked for elimination are divisions overseeing U.S. operations in Afghanistan and an office dedicated to resettling Afghan nationals who assisted American forces.
In its communication to Congress, the State Department clarified that this reorganization intends to eliminate offices performing overlapping or unclear duties, positioning these moves as an effort to streamline what is described as a bloated bureaucracy.
The intent, according to Rubio, is to ensure that modern diplomacy is effective while aligning resources with the administration’s policy priorities.
Significantly, the changes aim to cut back on programs relating to refugees and immigration, as well as human rights and democracy promotion, aspects that the Trump administration deemed ideologically misaligned with its objectives.
The American Foreign Service Association, which represents diplomats, urged a pause on job cuts last month on the grounds that such drastic steps should only be taken as a last resort.
Association President Tom Yazdgerdi stated that ‘Disrupting the Foreign Service like this puts national interests at risk — and Americans everywhere will bear the consequences.’
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