Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Jul 11: In one of the largest shake-ups in recent US diplomatic history, the State Department is set to lay off more than 1,300 employees on Friday as part of a sweeping reorganization plan initiated by the Trump administration earlier this year.
According to a senior department official, 1,107 civil servants and 246 foreign service officers assigned to domestic roles will receive termination notices. Foreign service officers will be placed on 120 days of administrative leave before officially losing their positions, while most civil servants will face a 60-day separation period.
An internal notice cited “streamlining domestic operations to focus on diplomatic priorities” as the reason for the headcount reductions, targeting non-core functions, redundant offices, and departments deemed inefficient or duplicative.
The cuts, praised by former President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as necessary for efficiency and modernization, have drawn fierce criticism from diplomats and foreign policy experts. Many warn that the reorganization will weaken US influence abroad and hinder its ability to address emerging global threats.
Rubio defended the move during a visit to Malaysia, saying, “If you close the bureau, you don’t need those positions. It’s not about eliminating people — it’s about eliminating positions.” He also noted that some of the eliminated roles were already vacant or would be soon due to early retirements.
The American Foreign Service Association, the union representing US diplomats, had urged the department to delay the reduction in force, calling layoffs a “last resort” and warning of serious risks to national interests.
The restructuring also follows a recent Supreme Court decision that cleared the way for the layoffs to proceed, though legal challenges are still pending.
Michael Rigas, the deputy secretary for management and resources, described the move as “the biggest reorganization in decades,” thanking affected employees for their service.
The updated plan, sent to Congress in late May, calls for an 18% reduction in domestic staff—higher than the 15% previously proposed. It includes dismantling several offices tied to US operations in Afghanistan, including those assisting Afghan nationals who supported the US military.
The reorganization also targets programs related to refugees, immigration, human rights, and democracy promotion — areas the Trump administration has often viewed as ideologically misaligned with its foreign policy agenda.
As over 300 bureaus and offices brace for the impact, critics say the cuts reflect a broader push to reshape American diplomacy by shrinking its global footprint — with consequences that may be felt for years to come.