The State Department is terminating over 1,300 employees, including 1,107 civil servants and 246 foreign service officers, due to a reorganization plan from the Trump administration. Foreign service officers will be placed on administrative leave for 120 days before formally losing their jobs, while civil servants have a 60-day separation period. The restructuring aims to streamline domestic operations by focusing on diplomatic priorities, with reductions targeting non-core functions and duplicative offices. The layoffs have faced criticism for potentially weakening U.S. diplomatic influence.
In connection with the departmental reorganization, the department is streamlining domestic operations to focus on diplomatic priorities. Headcount reductions have been carefully tailored to affect non-core functions, duplicative or redundant offices, and offices where considerable efficiencies may be found from centralization or consolidation of functions and responsibilities.
While lauded by President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and their Republican allies as overdue and necessary to make the department leaner, more nimble and more efficient, the cuts have been roundly criticized by current and former diplomats who say they will weaken U.S. influence and its ability to counter existing and emerging threats abroad.
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