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By Amanda Castro
Associate News Editor
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The U.S. State Department will lay off more than 1,300 employees on Friday as part of a sweeping reorganization plan initiated by the Trump administration, according to an internal notice obtained by the Associated Press.
The cuts include 1,107 civil servants and 246 foreign service officers with domestic assignments. Affected foreign service officers will be placed on 120 days of administrative leave before formal termination, while most civil servants face a 60-day separation period.
Newsweek reached out to the State Department for comment on the matter outside of regular business hours.
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Why It Matters
This marks one of the most significant personnel reductions in the department's history and reflects the administration's broader effort to shrink the federal workforce and reshape American diplomacy.
Critics warn the cuts will weaken U.S. global influence and hinder the department's ability to respond to emerging threats. Offices focused on refugee resettlement, human rights, and democracy promotion are among those targeted for elimination, raising concerns about the future of values-based diplomacy.
What To Know
The reorganization affects over 1,300 employees and is part of a broader plan to eliminate or consolidate more than 300 bureaus and offices. A recent ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for the dismissals, despite ongoing legal challenges. The restructuring absorbs functions from the now-defunct U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which had already seen mass layoffs. Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the move as a necessary step to eliminate redundancy and improve efficiency, saying some positions were already vacant or scheduled for retirement.
The department's internal notice said that headcount reductions were tailored to affect non-core functions and duplicative offices. Critics, including the American Foreign Service Association, urged the department to delay the layoffs, calling them a "last resort" that could undermine national interests. Lawsuits challenging the legality of the reorganization are still pending, and congressional oversight may shape its long-term impact.
The cuts will exempt passport and visa operations, law enforcement agents, and regional staff assigned to specific country desks. However, divisions overseeing Afghan resettlement and war crimes are among those being dismantled. The department plans to implement new reporting structures and hold town halls to manage the transition.
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What People Are Saying
Excerpt from an internal notice from the State Department, obtained by the Associated Press: "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."
Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, per the AP: "It's not a consequence of trying to get rid of people. But if you close the bureau, you don't need those positions. Understand that some of these are positions that are being eliminated, not people."
American Foreign Service Association President Tom Yazdgerdi who urged the State Department to delay job cuts last month: "Disrupting the Foreign Service like this puts national interests at risk—and Americans everywhere will bear the consequences."
What Happens Next?
The State Department will begin a transition period to implement its new organizational structure, while legal challenges to the layoffs continue in federal court. Congressional budget negotiations and oversight hearings may further influence the future of U.S. diplomacy.
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