The U.S. State Department is preparing to initiate a sweeping round of layoffs as early as today, according to an internal announcement and sources familiar with the matter. The job cuts, which may affect up to 2,000 employees, are part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to restructure the department in line with President Donald Trump’s "America First" foreign policy agenda.
Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources Michael Rigas informed staff in an internal email on Thursday, July 10, that the department will “soon” notify affected employees. “Once notifications have taken place, the Department will enter the final stage of its reorganization and focus its attention on delivering results-driven diplomacy,” Rigas wrote in the message obtained by Reuters.
Deep Cuts Across the Diplomatic Corps
While the department has not confirmed the exact number of layoffs, a plan submitted to Congress in May proposed reducing the workforce by roughly 1,900 positions from its domestic total of 18,000. The plan also referenced another 1,575 employees who had taken deferred resignations. More than 300 of the State Department’s 734 bureaus and offices are expected to be downsized, merged, or eliminated entirely.
Notably, among the positions being targeted are members of the elite foreign service corps—career diplomats who have long represented U.S. interests abroad, often in high-risk or strategic regions. The layoffs could result in a significant loss of expertise in key areas such as diplomacy with China and Russia, especially at a time of heightened global tensions.
A Reshaping in Line With "America First"
The move is the first large-scale execution of President Trump’s promised reorganization of the federal government. The administration argues that the State Department has become bloated and inefficient, and that streamlining is necessary to create a more agile and effective institution.
“The focus is on the org chart first—functions of a more efficient, capable, fast and effective State Department,” a senior department official told Reuters. “When something is too large to operate, too bureaucratic to actually function and to deliver projects or action, it has to change.”
In line with Trump’s campaign promises, the plan also calls for the elimination of most Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. These initiatives, once intended to promote cultural awareness and representation within diplomatic ranks, are now being described by administration officials as distractions from the department’s “core mission.”
Elimination of Key Offices and Leadership Roles
Among the more controversial aspects of the reorganization is the elimination of the position overseeing civilian security, democracy, and human rights—roles that have historically led U.S. efforts in conflict monitoring and global justice. Offices tracking war crimes, political repression, and democratic backsliding around the world are also slated for closure or consolidation.
Critics say these moves threaten to undercut American influence abroad and reduce U.S. capacity to respond to humanitarian crises or support democratic movements.
Backlash from Diplomatic Veterans
The restructuring plan has triggered a wave of concern among former diplomats and national security professionals. In late June, over 130 retired ambassadors and senior officials issued an open letter condemning the proposed layoffs and closures. They warned that the changes could "undermine decades of accumulated diplomatic expertise, regional knowledge, and hard-earned trust with allies and partners."
They also expressed concern about the timing—citing ongoing instability in the Middle East, Russia’s continued aggression in Ukraine, and China’s assertive posture in the Indo-Pacific.
Legal Green Light from Supreme Court
The State Department’s move comes just weeks after a Supreme Court ruling effectively opened the door for the administration to conduct broad downsizing across federal agencies. Legal experts say the decision gives the White House unprecedented power to reshape executive departments, potentially affecting tens of thousands of federal jobs.
While the administration maintains that layoff decisions are based on the relevance and efficiency of department functions—not the individuals in those roles—critics warn the plan reflects a politicization of the diplomatic corps.
What Comes Next
Initial layoff notifications are expected as early as today, July 11, and the department plans to complete the reorganization within the coming months. While some affected employees may be offered reassignment or early retirement packages, many are likely to face termination.
For now, the mood at Foggy Bottom—the headquarters of the U.S. diplomatic corps—is one of uncertainty and unease.
