In a sweeping move to shrink the federal workforce, more than 1,000 employees of the U.S. State Department have been laid off under the Trump administration’s reorganization initiative. According to a notice obtained by CBS News, 1,107 civil service employees and 246 foreign service officers have been dismissed involuntarily.
These cuts are part of a broader federal effort that also saw over 1,500 employees exit voluntarily earlier this year. While the administration says the reductions are part of eliminating redundant positions, critics argue the layoffs undermine national security and foreign policy operations.
Significant layoffs occurred in the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, particularly in the admissions office responsible for refugee resettlement. Employees working in the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts (CARE) office were also affected. CBS News reported emotional scenes at the State Department, with staff members leaving with personal belongings as colleagues applauded and embraced them. Outside, protesters gathered with placards reading, “Thank you to America’s diplomats” and “We all deserve better.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking from Malaysia, defended the decision. “It’s not a consequence of trying to get rid of people. But if you close the bureau, you don’t need those positions. Some of these are positions being eliminated, not people,” he explained.
Democratic senators on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee condemned the move, calling it a blow to national security. “Blanket and indiscriminate cuts… weaken our government’s ability to deliver for the American people,” they stated, referencing the controversial legacy of Elon Musk’s failed DOGE initiative as a cautionary parallel.
The layoffs follow a recent Supreme Court ruling that gave the green light to the Trump administration’s plan to reduce the federal workforce. The State Department had informed Congress earlier this year of its intention to cut 18% of its 18,700 domestic employees.
The cuts also coincide with the closure of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Over 80% of its programs were cancelled by March, and on July 1, the remaining operations were absorbed into the State Department.
The long-term effects of these reductions on U.S. diplomacy and global engagement remain to be seen.
