The U.S. State Department is set to lay off more than 1,300 employees as part of a sweeping reorganization initiative pushed by President Donald Trump and formally presented to Congress in May. The updated plan calls for significant cuts to staffing and programs, including an 18% reduction in the department’s U.S.-based workforce.
According to a senior State Department official cited by the Associated Press, layoff notices will be sent to 1,107 civil servants and 246 foreign service officers with domestic assignments. Civil servants will be given a 60-day separation period, while foreign service officers will be placed on 120 days of administrative leave before being officially terminated.
An internal notice reviewed by the AP says the department is “streamlining domestic operations to focus on diplomatic priorities,” with reductions aimed at “non-core functions, duplicative or redundant offices, and offices where efficiencies may be gained through centralization or consolidation.”
The department had informed employees on Thursday that layoffs were imminent. Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources Michael Rigas also issued a message thanking affected staff “for their dedication and service to the United States.”
Rubio Defends Cuts as Strategic
Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the layoffs, calling them a “very deliberate step” to make the department “more efficient and more focused.” Speaking to reporters Thursday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Rubio emphasized that many of the positions being eliminated were either already unfilled or soon to be vacated.
“This isn’t about trying to get rid of people,” Rubio said. “But if you close the bureau, you don’t need those positions. Understand that some of these are positions that are being eliminated, not people.”
Supreme Court Clears Path for Cuts
The reorganization plan had faced legal challenges, but a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling lifted lower court injunctions that had blocked the layoffs. However, lawsuits questioning the legality of the reductions are still ongoing.
The department’s letter to Congress noted that the restructuring would impact more than 300 bureaus and offices. In addition to eliminating duplicative functions, the plan also targets programs the Trump administration views as ideologically misaligned with its agenda—specifically, those related to immigration, human rights, and democracy promotion.
Programs on the Chopping Block
According to AP, some of the divisions slated for elimination include offices that oversaw America’s 20-year involvement in Afghanistan, including those responsible for resettling Afghan nationals who worked with U.S. forces.
The reorganization, critics say, could severely weaken America’s diplomatic reach at a time of increasing global tensions. Nonetheless, the Trump administration argues that trimming the bureaucracy is essential to modernizing the State Department’s operations.
