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In a dramatic and controversial shake-up of American diplomacy, the Trump administration fired more than 1,300 State Department employees on Friday, executing a broad reorganization plan that critics warn will cripple U.S. global influence and undermine national security.
According to a senior official, 1,107 civil servants and 246 foreign service officers received formal layoff notices, effective immediately for some, ending their access to State Department buildings, email, and shared drives by 5 p.m. The decision sparked emotional scenes inside Foggy Bottom and intense backlash from diplomats, lawmakers, and protestors alike.
The notices stated that their positions were being “abolished”, part of a plan led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio to reduce the department’s U.S.-based workforce by 18% — nearly 1 in 5 employees. Entire offices were dismantled, including units focused on Afghan refugee resettlement, human rights, and democracy promotion.
“This is not the way to treat people who served their country and who believe in ‘America First,’” said Anne Bodine, a former diplomat who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
A Chaotic Scene at the Heart of U.S. Diplomacy
Outside the State Department, dozens of protesters and former diplomats held signs reading “We all deserve better” and “Thank you to America’s diplomats” in a solemn show of solidarity. Some signs took darker tones, shaped like gravestones with words like “democracy”, “human rights”, and “diplomacy.”
“It’s just heartbreaking to see people coming out in tears, because all they wanted to do was serve this country,” said Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.), a former State Department adviser in Afghanistan.
Inside, employees hugged departing colleagues. Paper signs reading “Colleagues, if you remain: resist fascism”appeared in restrooms and hallways. One anonymous employee told AP she had printed them ahead of time, fearing retaliation.
Rubio, Trump Defend Layoffs as “Efficiency”
While former diplomats and bipartisan lawmakers condemned the cuts, Rubio and President Trump defended the mass firings as long overdue.
“Understand that some of these are positions that are being eliminated, not people,” Rubio said Thursday during a visit to Malaysia. “If you close the bureau, you don’t need those positions.”
In a May letter to Congress, the department cited “overlapping and unclear work” as justification for eliminating over 300 bureaus and offices, many of them tied to foreign aid, refugee policy, and democracy programs.
The reorganization follows the Trump administration’s recent absorption of USAID into the State Department, accompanied by a severe reduction in foreign aid. On Friday, the U.S. Institute of Peace — a nonpartisan think tank — also confirmed that all 300 employees were laid off, marking its second shutdown in five years.
Bipartisan Outcry and Legal Challenges
Current and former diplomats, including Antony Blinken, Robert Blake, and Gordon Duguid, condemned the layoffs as unjust, ideologically driven, and destructive to U.S. interests.
“These layoffs are untethered from merit or mission,” said the American Foreign Service Association, which represents diplomats.
“At a moment of great global instability, this is a catastrophic blow.”
Lawsuits challenging the legality of the firings are ongoing. A recent Supreme Court ruling cleared the way for the layoffs, though many view the decision as a temporary green light, not a final judgment.
Jessica Bradley Rushing, who worked in the Office of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts, said her entire team was let go — despite already being placed on administrative leave.
“I never even anticipated that I could be at risk for that because I’m already on leave,” she said. “It was carnage.”
More Than Restructuring: An Ideological Purge?
Many critics argue that the firings are not just about efficiency, but rather about purging programs that don’t align with Trump’s ideology — especially those focused on immigration, humanitarian efforts, and democracy promotion.
A senior official confirmed that the layoffs targeted offices and personnel connected to Afghan resettlement, as well as those tasked with overseeing 20 years of U.S. involvement in Afghanistan.
“They’re not looking for people with expertise,” said Duguid, a 31-year foreign service veteran. “They just want people who say, ‘How high?’”
As the dust settles, critics say the real cost may not be fully known for months — or even years. The loss of experienced diplomats, institutional knowledge, and international credibility, they argue, could leave the U.S. vulnerable to foreign threats and ill-equipped to lead on the global stage.
“Losing this level of diplomatic expertise is not just a personnel issue,” said Blake. “It’s a national security issue.”
