Washington, July 11, 2025 — In a major bureaucratic shake-up, the Trump administration has initiated the termination of over 1,300 State Department employees as part of a broader effort to restructure the agency’s domestic operations.
According to internal documents reviewed by the Associated Press, 1,107 civil servants and 246 foreign service officers with domestic assignments have received layoff notices. A senior State Department official, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the matter, confirmed that the layoffs began Friday.
Affected foreign service officers have been placed on administrative leave for 120 days, after which their employment will be formally ended. Civil servants will undergo a 60-day separation period, the notice stated.
The internal memo outlined the administration’s rationale:
“In connection with the departmental reorganisation… 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 centralisation or consolidation of functions and responsibilities.”
This move is part of President Trump’s ongoing effort to reduce what he has repeatedly called an “overgrown federal bureaucracy” and to reallocate resources toward “core diplomatic missions.”
Critics have raised alarms about the long-term impact of the decision. Diplomats and policy experts argue that removing seasoned civil servants and foreign service professionals could undermine America’s ability to manage complex international relations and respond to global crises.
“No matter how it’s framed, cutting over 1,300 people—many of whom are experienced in diplomacy and development—cripples our global reach,” said a former U.S. ambassador who requested anonymity.
This restructuring follows a trend in the Trump administration of consolidating departments, reducing foreign aid budgets, and shifting away from multilateral engagement in favor of transactional diplomacy. It comes at a time when global tensions are rising, and many view seasoned diplomatic presence as crucial to maintaining stability.
The layoff process will continue in phases, and further clarity is expected in the coming weeks as the State Department reorganizes key departments and realigns its mission priorities.
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