The United States Department of State began on Friday the dismissal of more than 1,300 employees as part of a deep restructuring promoted by the administration of former President Donald Trump, a measure that has sparked harsh criticism for its potential impact on the country’s diplomatic and international security capabilities.
According to a senior official who spoke on condition of anonymity, dismissal notifications were issued to 1,107 civilian employees and 246 Foreign Service officers with domestic assignments. The affected diplomats will be placed on administrative leave for 120 days before officially losing their jobs, while civilians will have a 60-day separation period.
“In connection with the departmental reorganization... the Department is streamlining its domestic operations to focus on diplomatic priorities,” states the internal notification obtained by the Associated Press. The restructuring aims to eliminate functions deemed non-essential, duplicated, or susceptible to consolidation.
The plan has been endorsed by Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Republican leaders, who describe it as a necessary step to streamline and modernize the agency. However, former diplomats and analysts have warned that the reduction in personnel will seriously weaken the country’s ability to respond to emerging threats and exercise international leadership.
The layoffs are part of a broader effort by the White House to downsize the federal government. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), with over six decades of existence, was absorbed by the State Department last week, following significant cuts in foreign assistance funds.
A recent decision by the Supreme Court cleared the legal path for carrying out layoffs, although several lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the process are still pending.
In a letter sent to Congress in May, the Department had announced its intention to reduce its workforce of over 18,700 employees in the U.S. by 18%, combining layoffs with voluntary departures and deferred retirement programs.
I’m sorry, but you haven’t provided any text to be translated. Could you please provide the text you would like me to translate from Spanish to English?