A new class of 170 Foreign Service officers entered the State Department this month, and the agency has signed a nearly $1 million contract to recruit 600 to 1,000 more candidates for the Foreign Service Officer Test.
The hiring push comes a year after roughly 1,350 employees were cut in a rapid reduction in force, with former staff saying the department is refilling many of the same jobs they lost.
Laid-off employees said they have not been contacted or rehired, even though agencies are generally expected to give priority consideration after a RIF; the department said former staff can apply but face the same process as other candidates.
Former diplomats and civil servants said the cuts wiped out specialized expertise in technology, regional policy and training programs, and warned new recruits cannot quickly replace lost institutional knowledge.
The rebound in hiring is also fueling accusations that the department is swapping out experienced staff for ideologically aligned recruits and contractors who are easier to dismiss.