- Supreme Court OKs Trump-Era Layoffs: The State Department will begin firing hundreds of U.S.-based employees after the Court approved mass federal downsizing.
- 15% Staff Cut Incoming: Secretary Marco Rubio’s plan aims to trim bloated bureaucracy and make the department “relevant, effective, and quick.”
- Critics Push Back: Opponents say critical programs are at risk, but officials insist layoffs target redundant roles—not individual merit.
Big changes are coming to Foggy Bottom. Following the Supreme Court’s green light this week, the State Department has begun notifying staff that layoffs are imminent—hundreds of U.S.-based employees are expected to be let go “in the coming days.”
The move is part of a broader Trump administration initiative to trim federal bloat and streamline operations across Washington. Originally proposed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio in April, the plan aims to cut roughly 15% of the State Department’s workforce.
Spokeswoman Tammy Bruce defended the effort Thursday, stating the goal is to make the department “relevant,” “effective,” and “quick.” As she put it, “When something is too large to operate, too bureaucratic, to actually function and to deliver projects or action, it has to change.”
The cuts fall under the larger mission of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—spearheaded by President Trump and launched with the help of Elon Musk to tackle “waste, fraud, and abuse” across federal agencies.
Critics argue the layoffs may jeopardize national security and global health programs, but a senior official clarified the department is “targeting functions,” not individuals, and focusing only on domestic staff—no overseas Foreign Service officers are being cut at this time.
The department had warned earlier this year that up to 1,800 roles could be affected, in addition to nearly 1,000 voluntary departures.
As Deputy Secretary Michael Rigas noted in a staff email: “Every effort has been made to support our colleagues who are departing.”