WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — The U.S. State Department will soon begin laying off employees as part of a major restructuring effort. The move comes after the Supreme Court lifted a block on the Trump administration’s plan to reduce the federal workforce. In a message sent Thursday, Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Michael J. Rigas informed employees that layoffs would begin “soon.” Diplomats say some employees may receive notices as early as Friday morning.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio first announced the reorganization in May. He called the department “bloated” and burdened by too much bureaucracy. His plan aims to reduce the U.S.-based workforce by 15%. About half of the cuts will come from voluntary departures. Some employees accepted “deferred resignation” offers from the Trump administration earlier this year.
The department currently employs around 18,000 people in the United States. Officials said the layoffs are not targeting specific individuals, but job roles considered redundant. For example, three offices handling economic sanctions will merge into one.
The union representing Foreign Service officers expects about 700 diplomats based in the U.S. to lose their jobs. Civil service employees, mostly located in Washington, D.C., will also face major job losses.
Rubio’s plan does not include cuts to overseas operations, such as embassies or consulates. However, a senior State Department official confirmed that all global operations are still under review. This effort follows President Trump’s earlier elimination of the U.S. Agency for International Development. That agency had employed around 10,000 people globally, including local and contract workers.
The layoffs sparked strong criticism from Democratic lawmakers and former diplomats. They warn the move weakens U.S. diplomatic strength at a critical moment. “America’s diplomatic corps is needed now more than ever,” wrote several dozen House members in a June letter to Rubio. They cited rising tensions in the Middle East, the war in Ukraine, and growing global competition with China.
Critics also say the restructuring will dismantle offices that focus on key issues like human rights, democracy, refugees, and war crimes. Rubio argues that regional bureaus can handle these topics more efficiently. But career diplomats say this will sideline these concerns from top-level policy decisions.
While laid-off workers can technically apply for other roles, a recent change makes that difficult. Rubio approved revisions to the State Department’s Foreign Affairs Manual that limit the ability of affected staff to transfer into new jobs within the department. This change effectively ends the careers of many longtime employees. It also raises concerns about political motives behind the layoffs.
The department insists the cuts are not political. A senior official said the changes are about “streamlining operations,” not targeting individuals or political views.
Rubio has long criticized the slow pace of decision-making at the State Department. In Senate testimony this spring, he said one memo required approval from 40 people before reaching his desk.
“That’s ridiculous,” Rubio said. “We can’t move at that pace in this world.”
The layoff plan marks one of the most significant changes to the State Department in recent history. Supporters call it a necessary step toward modernization. Opponents say it risks weakening America’s role on the world stage. As global crises intensify, many wonder if the United States is cutting too deep, too soon.
