State Department to Lay Off Nearly 2,000 Employees Following Supreme Court Ruling

The State Department informed its employees on Thursday that a recent Supreme Court ruling would lead to the termination of nearly 2,000 workers. This decision allows the Trump administration to move forward with significant job cuts aimed at decreasing the size of the federal workforce.

Initially announced in April by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the agency’s reorganization plan involves eliminating positions and offices deemed redundant. In February, President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing Rubio to make changes to ensure his foreign policy objectives are effectively executed.

Employees impacted by this “power reduction” will be notified immediately, as stated in an email from Michael Rigas.

Rigas expressed gratitude for employees’ dedication, emphasizing that every effort was made to assist those departing, including individuals who took part in a postponed resignation program. He conveyed appreciation for their ongoing commitment to the reorganization, which aligns with the national interests of the United States across the globe.

While the department did not specify how many would be terminated on Thursday, plans shared with Congress in May indicated around 1,800 personnel might be let go from a domestic workforce of approximately 18,000. An additional 1,575 individuals were estimated to have resigned.

Interestingly, the plan submitted to Congress did not clarify how many of those affected are civil servants or part of foreign services, though it noted that over 300 out of the department’s 734 offices would be streamlined, merged, or removed.

Once employees are informed, the department will enter the final phases of the reorganization, shifting its focus to delivering effective diplomacy, Rigas mentioned in his communication with colleagues. It seems that these changes may begin unfolding as soon as Friday.

State Department spokesman Tammy Bruce cited that any previous delays in these job cuts were due to the court’s intervention. She mentioned the forthcoming layoffs were inevitable. “If something is too big, too bureaucratic and is not effectively delivering results, then that needs to change,” she remarked.