Friday July 11, 2025
By TheNewsDESK |
The United States, US, State Department has began laying off over 1,350 employees as part of Trump’s sweeping diplomatic corps restructuring, ARISE News reported.
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The State Department began dismissing over 1,350 employees on Friday as President Donald Trump’s administration pressed ahead with an unprecedented overhaul of the diplomatic corps, a move critics argue could weaken the country’s ability to defend and promote US interests abroad.
The layoffs affected 1,107 civil service staff and 246 foreign service officers based across the country. They come as Washington faces several global crises, including Russia’s war in Ukraine, the nearly two-year conflict in Gaza, and rising tensions between Israel and Iran that have destabilised the Middle East.
“The Department is streamlining domestic operations to focus on diplomatic priorities,” read an internal notice sent to staff. “Headcount reductions have been carefully tailored to affect non-core functions, duplicative or redundant offices, and offices where considerable efficiencies may be found.”
According to the notice and a senior official, the total reduction — including voluntary exits — will approach 3,000 out of the 18,000 employees serving within the US.
The move marks the first phase of a wider restructuring plan aimed at aligning foreign policy with Trump’s “America First” agenda. Former diplomats and critics warn that cutting key foreign service positions risks eroding the country’s ability to confront growing challenges from rivals like China and Russia.
“President Trump and Secretary of State Rubio are once again making America less safe and less secure,” said Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia. “This is one of the most ridiculous decisions that could possibly be made at a time when China is expanding its diplomatic reach and building overseas military and transport bases, Russia is continuing its years-long assault on a sovereign nation, and the Middle East is spiralling into deeper crisis.”
At the State Department’s headquarters in Washington, DC, temporary processing centres were set up for departing staff to return government property such as ID badges, laptops, and phones. Posters reading “Transition Day Out Processing” were displayed, and one counter was labelled “Outprocessing Service Center,” with water bottles and a box of tissues placed nearby. Cardboard boxes were also seen in some rooms.
Fired employees received a five-page separation checklist outlining steps to be completed before they lose access to the building and their email accounts at 5 p.m. EDT on Friday, July 11.
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