State Department finalizes layoffs for hundreds of employees
Updated
Updated · Federal News Network · May 5
State Department finalizes layoffs for hundreds of employees
13 articles · Updated · Federal News Network · May 5
On Tuesday it officially separated nearly 250 Foreign Service staff and about 30 civil service employees after almost a year on paid administrative leave.
The cuts stem from a 2025 reduction in force tied to a reorganisation, while affected diplomats say they were barred from competing for vacancies despite a recent recruitment drive.
The American Foreign Service Association criticised the move as disruptive, and the department's 2027 budget indicates a smaller workforce even as it seeks funds for USAID-related hires and new priority posts.
As USAID closes, what is the predicted human cost of dismantling America's global aid infrastructure?
With experienced diplomats being fired, who will now manage America’s role in escalating global crises?
How do new performance-based firing rules change the stability and expertise of the U.S. civil service?