More than 1,000 employees of the U.S. State Department have been laid off, marking one of the most significant federal workforce reductions under the Trump administration’s ongoing government reorganization drive.
According to an internal memo obtained by CBS News, a total of 1,107 civil service and 246 foreign service officers were affected by the involuntary layoffs. The cuts come in addition to over 1,500 employees who opted for voluntary exits earlier this year, part of a broader 18% staff reduction strategy previously communicated to Congress.
The layoffs have drawn criticism from both employees and lawmakers who argue the mass staff downsizing could severely disrupt the department’s operations. One of the hardest-hit areas is the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration’s admissions office, a critical programme that supports refugee resettlement in the U.S. Similarly, staff working with the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts (CARE), which helps evacuate and support Afghan allies, were also impacted.
Videos circulating on social media showed emotional scenes at the State Department headquarters, with employees applauding colleagues as they left carrying boxes of personal items. Outside, demonstrators held up signs reading “Thank you America’s diplomats” and “We all deserve better,” expressing frustration over what many see as abrupt and unjustified cuts.
Despite the backlash, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking from Malaysia, defended the move. “It’s not about targeting individuals,” he said. “When a bureau is shut down, the positions attached to it become redundant. These are job eliminations tied to program closures.”
Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee released a joint statement condemning the cuts, warning they “undermine our national security.” The senators argued that while targeted reforms are acceptable, these sweeping layoffs are “indiscriminate and damaging,” linking them to what they termed the “legacy of Elon Musk’s failed DOGE initiative,” a reference to past tech-sector restructuring now used as an analogy.
The layoffs follow a Supreme Court ruling earlier this week that gave the green light for the Trump administration’s plan to downsize the federal workforce. The State Department, which had a staff of over 18,700 U.S.-based employees at the start of the year, has now seen a significant portion of its personnel let go.
In a related development, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) officially ceased operations earlier this month following an executive directive. Over 80% of the agency’s programmes had already been scrapped by March, with remaining functions absorbed by the State Department on July 1.
These sweeping changes, which stem from President Trump’s longstanding campaign pledge to cut government spending, have raised alarms over the long-term impact on American diplomacy, humanitarian programs, and global engagement.
