After the Supreme Court paved the way, US President Donald Trump initiated a major diplomatic overhaul with the dismissal of over 1,350 State Department employees, a move that critics warn could undermine the United States’ global influence.
In a significant personnel shake-up, more than 1,350 Department of State employees – comprising 1,107 civil service and 246 foreign service officers based in the United States – have been fired as per President Donald Trump’s orders.
The dismissals, affecting both civil and foreign service officers, come amid worldwide uncertainties, including Russia’s conflict in Ukraine, the ongoing tensions linked to the Gaza situation, and heightened tensions in the Middle East due to the strained relations between Israel and Iran.
Departing colleagues were visto clapping and in emotional states as they left their workplace with boxes of personal items, an expressive sign of loss and commitment to their service to the nation, as stated by US Senator Andy Kim, a veteran of the Department of State’s civilian advisory role during Barack Obama’s presidency.
“Witnessing these dedicated individuals leaving in tears is heartrending, a testament to their unwavering commitment to serve their country,” Kim remarked.
This move to cut down government positions, which came shortly after the Supreme Court lifted restrictions, allows the Trump administration to advance its agenda of potentially reducing the workforce by thousands. It forms part of the president’s broader strategy to revamp the so-called “deep state” by installing loyalists and removing longstanding public servants.
Trump’s Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, justified the layoffs as necessary measures to streamline an overstaffed department; however, the union representing State Department employees, the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), has vehemently opposed the decision, labeling it a “catastrophic blow” to national security interests.
State Department employment figures indicate a presence of over 80,000 personnel worldwide, with around 17,700 in roles within the United States. The layoffs have already affected the US Agency for International Development (USAID), traditionally vital for US humanitarian efforts around the globe, which has seen significant downsizing.
Staff were informed of the firings via email, with foreign service officers set to lose their jobs 120 days after notification, immediately going on administrative leave, whereas civil service employees will be separated after 60 days, according to The Washington Post.
Critics, including former State Department spokesperson Ned Price, have decried the firings as “haphazard,” suggesting that they are based on arbitrary factors rather than competencies or performance. Price referred to the process as “the laziest, most inefficient, and most damaging way to streamline the workforce.”
The dismissals, affecting both civil and foreign service officers, come amid worldwide uncertainties, including Russia’s conflict in Ukraine, the ongoing tensions linked to the Gaza situation, and heightened tensions in the Middle East due to the strained relations between Israel and Iran.
Departing colleagues were visto clapping and in emotional states as they left their workplace with boxes of personal items, an expressive sign of loss and commitment to their service to the nation, as stated by US Senator Andy Kim, a veteran of the Department of State’s civilian advisory role during Barack Obama’s presidency.
“Witnessing these dedicated individuals leaving in tears is heartrending, a testament to their unwavering commitment to serve their country,” Kim remarked.
This move to cut down government positions, which came shortly after the Supreme Court lifted restrictions, allows the Trump administration to advance its agenda of potentially reducing the workforce by thousands. It forms part of the president’s broader strategy to revamp the so-called “deep state” by installing loyalists and removing longstanding public servants.
Trump’s Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, justified the layoffs as necessary measures to streamline an overstaffed department; however, the union representing State Department employees, the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), has vehemently opposed the decision, labeling it a “catastrophic blow” to national security interests.
State Department employment figures indicate a presence of over 80,000 personnel worldwide, with around 17,700 in roles within the United States. The layoffs have already affected the US Agency for International Development (USAID), traditionally vital for US humanitarian efforts around the globe, which has seen significant downsizing.
Staff were informed of the firings via email, with foreign service officers set to lose their jobs 120 days after notification, immediately going on administrative leave, whereas civil service employees will be separated after 60 days, according to The Washington Post.
Critics, including former State Department spokesperson Ned Price, have decried the firings as “haphazard,” suggesting that they are based on arbitrary factors rather than competencies or performance. Price referred to the process as “the laziest, most inefficient, and most damaging way to streamline the workforce.”
