The State Department on Friday is carrying out plans to lay off 1,300 employees as part of a drastic reorganization effort, drawing outrage from former diplomats and Democrats who say the Trump administration as risking America’s national security by shrinking its diplomatic presence.
While Secretary of State Marco Rubio is on diplomatic travel in Asia, State Department employees located in the Washington D.C. area were instructed to return to the office on Friday with government-issued equipment in preparation for the layoffs.
“In view of the anticipated reorganization and RIF, there will be no telework tomorrow, Friday July 11. All employees should report to work with all Department issued equipment including: laptops, telephones, diplomatic passports, travel cards and any other property owned by the Department of State,” read a letter sent to staff and obtained by The Hill’s partner-outlet News Nation.
The Reduction in Force (RIF) notices are expected to go out to about 1,100 civil servants and 250 foreign service officers who are currently based in the U.S., NewsNation reported.
“As we understand that badges will be collected at the time of outprocessing. Please ensure that any personal items are collected before that time,” the letter read.
“In the coming days of uncertainty I want to express my gratitude to each of you for your professionalism and hard work, particularly in this difficult time of transition. Our team efforts to continue the goals of the Department of State has had lasting and meaningful effects both in the U.S. and in the world at large.”
Foreign service officers affected will be placed immediately on administrative leave for 120 days, after which they will formally lose their jobs, according to an internal notice obtained by The Associated Press. For most civil servants, the separation period is 60 days, it said.
Rubio announced in April a drastic reorganization of the State Department, eliminating 132 offices and transitioning 137 other offices to other locations within the agency — a move even critics concede may deliver some needed streamlining around policy development.
Rubio, speaking to reporters in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, said the layoffs are “a very deliberate step to reorganize the State Department to be more efficient and more focused.”
“It’s not a consequence of trying to get rid of people. But if you close the bureau, you don’t need those positions,” he said. “Understand that some of these are positions that are being eliminated, not people.”
On Friday, Rubio posted to his X account a picture of him meeting with U.S. embassy staff in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia as well as diplomats dispatched to the East Asian forum ASEAN, and praising their work.
“Their dedication has helped Americans, Malaysians, and others across Southeast Asia by strengthening our relationships across the region,” Rubio wrote.
The cuts being announced on Friday are far less than Rubio’s initial proposal of an 18 percent cut notified to Congress in May, which would amount to laying off 18,700 U.S.-based employees, the AP reported.
Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee roundly criticized the layoffs as harming America’s ability to counter adversaries and competitors, like China, on the world stage.
“There are active conflicts and humanitarian crises in Ukraine, Sudan, Gaza, Haiti and Myanmar—to name a few. Now is the time to strengthen our diplomatic hand, not weaken it,” read a statement led by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The state was joined by all Democrats on the panel.
“From pursuing peaceful resolutions to out-competing China diplomatically and economically, we can’t afford to not have experienced diplomats at the table.”
National Security Leaders for America, a bi-partisan, all-volunteer organization of former military, diplomats and civilian leaders, raised alarm over the State Department’s staffing cuts. In a statement, the group said the cuts will result in a critical loss of expertise and surrender U.S. global leadership. It also faulted the administration for not articulating a global strategy or vision for working with a diminished staff.
“NSL4A urges Congress to conduct oversight hearings on this plan and requests that the Administration suspend the reductions-in-force (RIFs) pending a comprehensive review of national security,” the statement read.
