The U.S. Department of State began laying off more than 1,350 staff members within the United States on Friday, July 11, as part of an unprecedented overhaul by the Trump administration—a move critics warn could significantly undermine America’s ability to protect and promote its interests abroad.
The layoffs affected 1,107 civil servants and 246 State Department officials stationed in the U.S. This action comes at a time when the country is grappling with a multitude of global crises, including the ongoing war in Ukraine, nearly two years of conflict in Gaza, and escalating tensions in the Middle East between Israel and Iran.
“The Department of State is restructuring its domestic operations to become more efficient and to better focus on critical diplomatic missions,” the department stated in an internal announcement. “The staff reductions are the result of a careful review to minimize impacts on core functions and target redundant or non-essential offices.”
According to the announcement and senior officials, the total reduction could reach nearly 3,000 positions, including voluntary resignations, out of the approximately 18,000 personnel employed domestically.
This marks the first step in a broader restructuring aimed at aligning U.S. foreign policy more closely with President Trump’s “America First” agenda. However, former diplomats and foreign policy experts have warned that the cuts could weaken the country’s ability to confront growing threats from adversaries such as China and Russia.
Senator Tim Kaine, a Democrat from Virginia, released a statement condemning the decision:
“President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are making America less safe and less stable once again. This is one of the most reckless decisions possible at a time when China is expanding its diplomatic reach and building overseas bases and logistics hubs, Russia has continued its brutal assaults on sovereign nations for years, and the Middle East is shifting from one crisis to the next.”
Dozens of State Department employees gathered in the main lobby of the headquarters in Washington, D.C., to applaud their colleagues who were suddenly laid off. Many were seen in tears, packing belongings into boxes, embracing one another, and saying emotional goodbyes.
Outside the building, several dozen members of the public lined up to clap and cheer for the dismissed diplomats. Some held signs that read “Thank You, American Diplomats.” Inside, several offices had been designated for returning department property, such as ID badges, laptops, and phones.
Notably, several staff members from the department’s office responsible for resettling Afghan nationals who had worked with the U.S. government during its 20-year war were also among those dismissed, marking yet another critical area affected by the reform.
https://www.thairath.co.th/news/foreign/2870087
