US State Department Set for Major Downsizing Under Trump Administration – Hundreds to Lose Jobs
Washington (The Uttam Hindu): In a significant administrative shift, the Trump administration is moving forward with a plan to downsize the US State Department, affecting up to 15% of its workforce. This decision comes shortly after a Supreme Court ruling cleared the path for such restructuring, overturning a previous lower court ban on mass layoffs in federal agencies.
According to a memo from Michael J. Rigas, Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, employees were formally notified Thursday that the layoff process will begin soon. Notifications could begin as early as Friday morning, sources told the New York Times.
The cuts will primarily affect career diplomats and civil service staff stationed both domestically and abroad. Around 700 foreign-service officers are expected to lose their positions, in addition to significant layoffs among Washington-based staff.
Earlier this year, Secretary of State Marco Rubio outlined a reorganization plan, describing the department as “bloated and bureaucratically entangled.” He argued that the move would align US diplomacy more closely with national interests and reduce the influence of “extreme political ideologies.”
Despite assurances that overseas missions and embassies would not be directly impacted, critics fear the opposite. Senior diplomats and Democratic lawmakers have sharply opposed the move, warning it could undermine US leadership and diplomatic strength on the global stage.
A joint letter from Congressional Democrats stated: “At a time when diplomacy is urgently needed to ease global tensions, this plan risks stripping America of its essential diplomatic tools.” Human rights and refugee advocacy offices are reportedly among the hardest hit, raising concerns over the future of international cooperation on democracy, asylum, and war crimes. The department insists the layoffs are based on structural reorganization and not politically motivated.
Rubio has also proposed merging several sanction enforcement offices to reduce redundancy, citing efficiency as a key reason behind the overhaul.
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