State Department Lays Off 1,300 Amid Reorganization

The U.S. State Department is laying off over 1,300 employees, including 1,107 civil servants and 246 domestic-based Foreign Service officers, as part of a Trump administration reorganization and federal workforce reduction plan. This action comes after a Supreme Court ruling permitted the administration to move forward with restructuring, which also targets key agencies such as the U.S. Agency for International Development. The Trump administration, with support from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, argues that the cuts will streamline operations and eliminate redundant functions. Critics, including current and former diplomats, caution that these layoffs could diminish U.S. diplomatic capacity and global influence. Foreign Service officers will receive 120 days of administrative leave before separation, while most civil servants are subject to a 60-day notice period. Legal challenges against the layoffs continue, and concerns remain about their long-term effects on American diplomacy.