State Department begins major staff cuts amid reorganization effort

Friday 11 July 2025 - 16:50

By: Dakir Madiha

State Department begins major staff cuts amid reorganization effort

The U.S. State Department has initiated the termination of over 1,300 employees as part of a sweeping restructuring plan aimed at streamlining the agency. According to an internal memo obtained by CNN, the layoffs include 1,107 civil service employees and 246 foreign service officers. Employees began receiving notices on Friday via email, signaling a significant overhaul of the department under the Trump administration's broader push to reduce the size of the federal government.

Restructuring and workforce reductions

The layoffs are part of a reorganization unveiled in April by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The plan seeks to eliminate redundancies, consolidate operations, and prioritize functions aligned with the administration’s policy objectives. A total of nearly 3,000 employees are set to depart, accounting for both involuntary separations and voluntary exits.

The changes have resulted in the closure or restructuring of hundreds of offices and bureaus. While civil service employees will be placed on administrative leave for 60 days before their terminations take effect, foreign service officers will receive a 120-day notice period.

The reorganization emphasizes aligning the department’s operations with the administration’s priorities, such as reducing immigration and shifting away from traditional focuses like global human rights advocacy. Critics, however, argue that these cuts will significantly weaken U.S. diplomatic capabilities, especially amidst ongoing challenges like the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Morale and criticism

The layoffs have sparked widespread concern and uncertainty among the State Department’s workforce. Many employees, who have dedicated decades to diplomatic service, now face an abrupt end to their careers. Thomas Yazdgerdi, president of the American Foreign Service Association, warned that the cuts come at a critical time for global diplomacy, citing pressing issues in Ukraine, Gaza, and Iran.

Yazdgerdi likened the foreign service to the military, noting its unique structure and personnel system. He criticized the reorganization for failing to consider the specialized nature of foreign service officers, who often possess extensive training and multilingual capabilities.

“There are global challenges that demand skilled diplomacy,” Yazdgerdi said. “This decision will not only impact morale but also recruitment and retention in the long term.”

Defense of the reorganization

Trump administration officials have defended the restructuring as a necessary measure to enhance efficiency and align the department with the president’s vision. Secretary Rubio described the process as deliberate, emphasizing the elimination of non-core functions and duplicative roles. A senior official noted that the reorganization focused on the functions performed rather than individual employees, ensuring that only positions deemed misaligned with future goals were eliminated.

While critics contend that the cuts could undermine U.S. leadership abroad, officials maintain that overseas diplomatic posts will remain unaffected for now. The fiscal impact of the reorganization remains unclear, but budget adjustments for the upcoming year are expected to reflect substantial savings.

The reductions come amid broader debates over the administration’s approach to foreign policy, which prioritizes domestic concerns and realigns resources away from traditional diplomatic priorities.