Nearly 2,000 Employees Expected to Be Laid Off as Part of Plan to Restructure and Downsize the Agency
The U.S. State Department has begun widespread layoffs after a recent Supreme Court ruling allowed the agency to move forward with a long-delayed reduction in force. An estimated 3,400 positions are set to be eliminated, with nearly 2,000 employees expected to be laid off following a round of voluntary resignations.
“Soon, the Department will be communicating to individuals affected by the reduction in force,” Deputy Secretary for Management Michael Rigas wrote in an email to staff. “First and foremost, we want to thank them for their dedication and service to the United States.”
The department recently modified its reduction-in-force policies to allow for more targeted layoffs based on location, job type, and skillsets, and reduced the standard notice period in some cases.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the department’s intention to move forward with the layoffs and stressed that Congress had been briefed on the plan weeks earlier. State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce stated the move as a structural necessity, citing concerns about the agency’s size and effectiveness. The decision has sparked debate as the department works to restructure and streamline operations, affecting both foreign service officers and domestic personnel across hundreds of reorganized units.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Secretary Rubio to receive God’s guidance as he heads the State Department and acts as National Security Advisor, Administrator of USAID, and Archivist of the U.S.
- For the government staff members and their families as they seek alternate employment.
- For the president and administration officials as they seek to reduce government waste and bureaucracy.
Sources: Townhall, CBS News
