The State Department began dismissing more than 1,300 employees on Friday, part of a sweeping reorganization under the Trump administration aimed at reshaping the federal government and refocusing the nation’s diplomatic priorities.
According to an internal memo reviewed by CNN, the layoffs impact 1,107 civil service employees and 246 foreign service officers based in Washington, DC. The cuts come as Secretary of State Marco Rubio returns from an overseas trip to Malaysia, while a dramatic restructuring of the agency takes effect.
Those let go had worked on programs addressing violent extremism, women’s rights, refugee policy, climate change, educational exchange, and support for Afghan evacuees. Entire offices and bureaus are being shuttered or merged under the reorganization.
“Nearly 3,000 employees will leave the department,” the internal message stated, a figure that includes both involuntary firings and voluntary departures.
As the dismissals were carried out Friday, signs of protest and solidarity appeared throughout the department’s DC headquarters. Notes of thanks and encouragement lined walls, while posters urging staff to “resist fascism” and uphold their constitutional oath were spotted throughout the building.
In a show of respect, remaining staff lined the lobby and sidewalks outside the department’s entrance to applaud their departing colleagues—many of whom exited carrying boxes or in tears. The gesture drew a crowd of supporters and demonstrators gathered for a rally nearby.
“I walked out of the State Department with my head held high,” said Olga Bashbush, a career diplomat with two decades of service, who was among those fired. “Without our diplomats, we’re left with endless wars. We were here to serve, and we still are.”
Outrage From Former Officials, Lawmakers
Democratic lawmakers and former diplomats condemned the move during Friday’s rally, warning it would damage U.S. foreign policy at a critical moment as the Trump administration seeks to negotiate resolutions to conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
They also criticized the reorganization for deprioritizing human rights and international cooperation in favor of immigration crackdowns and ideological alignment with Trump’s foreign policy goals.
“This is not reform,” said the American Foreign Service Association in a statement. “These layoffs are untethered from merit or mission. They target diplomats not for how they’ve served or what skills they bring, but for where they were assigned. That is unacceptable.”
Administration Defends Cuts as Streamlining
Trump administration officials have defended the cuts as a long-overdue correction to what they call a bloated bureaucracy.
“In connection with the reorganization announced on April 22, the Department is streamlining domestic operations to align with diplomatic priorities,” said Friday’s official statement.
The notice claimed the reductions targeted “non-core functions” and overlapping offices where efficiencies could be gained through consolidation. Foreign service officers given Reduction in Force (RIF) notices will be on administrative leave for 120 days; most civil service employees will receive 60 days’ notice.
Secretary Rubio defended the process as “deliberate” and “responsible.” But a senior State Department official admitted they couldn’t quantify how much taxpayer money would be saved and emphasized that the decisions were made based on roles, not individuals.
“If a function no longer aligned with the department’s goals, it was eliminated. It wasn’t about who filled the position,” the official said.
For now, the cuts are limited to domestic staff. Overseas posts remain unaffected, though concerns persist about broader implications for U.S. diplomacy.
Diplomatic Workforce Gutted
The American Foreign Service Association estimated that the U.S. has lost at least 20% of its diplomatic corps in just six months, with institutional knowledge and professional experience walking out the door.
“We stand with every American who knows that diplomacy is not expendable,” the association said. “It is essential.”
