WASHINGTON, D.C. (FEDweek) — The State Department announced plans Thursday to lay off 1,353 U.S. based employees as part of a broad reorganization initiative aimed at streamlining diplomatic operations and reducing bureaucracy. The cuts affect 1,107 civil service staffers and 246 foreign service officers and follows a recent Supreme Court ruling lifting an injunction on mass RIFs government wide, allowing them to proceed as that legal challenge continues.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the restructuring “an essential step to refocus our diplomatic priorities,” citing plans toward cybersecurity and sanctions oversight. Several regional and policy bureaus will be consolidated or eliminated, including the Russian and Caucasus desks merging into a single Office of Russian Affairs; and digital freedom initiatives will be absorbed into the newly formed Cyber and Technology Bureau. (Internal memoranda reveal that foreign service officer evaluations have been revised to include “fidelity” to current policies and zealous execution.)
Ten bureaus or offices were RIF’d, including the entire Bureau of Conflict & Stabilization Operations (CSO) and an undisclosed number of personnel from Consular Affairs, which may backlog U.S. passport and visa services over 90 days. When combined with voluntary retirements and buyouts, officials estimate the total workforce reduction will approach 3,000 positions.
The American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) has strongly opposed the cuts, warning they will “weaken America” by eliminating specialized posts such as nonproliferation experts and climate envoys.
Layoff notices were issued July 11, giving civil servants 60 days and foreign service officers 120 days to transition. A handful of notices were later rescinded and one retracted after an audit uncovered clerical errors, leaving some employees uncertain of their status.
Department officials say they will offer career counseling and placement assistance, including to officers fluent in rare languages like Pashto and Dari.
Current employees lined up at the Harry S. Truman Building for a final salute to departing colleagues, clapping them out as per tradition. Several senators attended a rally protesting the State Department layoffs while demanding accountability, including Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen. Other senators, including Sen. Cory Booker (D-Md.) and Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) joined other lawmakers in signing an 18-question letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanding answers to the layoffs.
In its initial AP News report, critics warned that phasing out bureaus for democracy, human rights, education and energy diplomacy could hamper U.S. response to crises from East Asia to Africa. Opponents argue that any cost savings must be weighed against the potential loss of expertise and diplomatic reach at a time of heightened global instability.
“The State Department’s decision to lay off 1,350 people is part of the current administration’s reorganization efforts pursuant to President Trump’s Executive Order. However, laying off this amount of people in a single instance may lead to allegations of a failure to follow the proper process, noted Ryan Nerney, Managing Partner at Tully Rinckey PLLC.
“It is unclear if these layoffs are part of the Reduction in Force process or another undisclosed process, however each individual who is laid off has rights and the proper process to execute these mass layoffs must be followed. Given the recent SCOTUS decision regarding this particular aspect regarding mass Reductions in Force, these lay off must be consistent with applicable laws and if not, then individuals who are impacted may have the ability to bring legal action to ensure these actions are actually being taken in accordance with the law.”
