On Friday, July 11th, the U.S. State Department initiated layoffs affecting more than 1,300 employees, implementing a broad restructuring effort in line with the Trump administration’s foreign policy agenda.
The move impacts 1,107 civil service staff and 246 foreign service officers. According to an internal memo, many affected employees will first be placed on administrative leave before being formally released. The decision follows months of internal planning and legal hurdles.
While traveling in Malaysia, the day before the layoffs, Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that the restructuring would proceed as previously outlined to Congress and developed over several months.
The department’s leadership described the overhaul as necessary to eliminate redundancies, streamline operations, and re-center diplomatic efforts around U.S. national interests. Rubio previously criticized the agency’s structure as “bloated” and ineffective.
Critics argue the timing is dangerous, with lawmakers from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee warning that the cuts could undermine U.S. diplomatic efforts during ongoing conflicts and humanitarian crises in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, Haiti, and Myanmar.
In total, nearly 3,000 departures are expected, encompassing both voluntary exits and forced layoffs. A senior official noted the changes were driven by departmental function, not individual performance.
