The U.S. State Department began dismissing over 1,350 employees on Friday as part of a sweeping restructuring ordered by President Donald Trump, aimed at aligning foreign policy with his “America First” agenda.
The layoffs include 1,107 civil service staff and 246 foreign service officers, with the department citing a need to streamline domestic operations by targeting non-core and redundant functions.
This marks the first phase of a broader plan to reduce the State Department’s U.S.-based workforce by nearly 3,000, including voluntary resignations, from a total of approximately 18,000 employees.
Critics, including former diplomats and lawmakers, warn that the cuts weaken U.S. diplomatic strength at a time of escalating global crises, including the war in Ukraine and growing tensions in the Middle East.
Democratic Senator Tim Kaine condemned the move, calling it reckless and dangerous amid China’s expanding global influence and Russia’s ongoing aggression in Ukraine.
Emotional scenes unfolded at the department’s headquarters, where staff held a “clap-out” to bid farewell to dismissed colleagues, many visibly upset as they carried their belongings and hugged coworkers.
Employees were instructed to return government-issued property and had their access to department systems terminated by 5 p.m. EDT on Friday, according to a “separation checklist” obtained by Reuters.
The overhaul includes dissolving offices related to human rights and war crimes and terminating staff from programs supporting Afghan resettlement, raising further concerns about the U.S.’s international commitments.
Trump had earlier ordered Secretary of State Marco Rubio to overhaul the department and eliminate so-called “deep state” elements, as part of his broader plan to cut bureaucracy and federal spending.
The U.S. Supreme Court recently cleared the legal path for these cuts, prompting federal agencies to move forward under coordinated guidance from the White House Counsel and the Office of Personnel Management.
