More than 1,000 workers at the United States State Department have lost their jobs as part of a major push by the Trump administration to reduce the size of the federal workforce.
According to a notice seen by CBS News, 1,107 civil service and 246 foreign service employees were laid off on Friday. These cuts followed an earlier wave of over 1,500 voluntary exits from the department earlier this year.
Among those affected are workers from the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration’s office of admissions and the office responsible for Afghan relocation efforts. Critics say these roles were vital and fear the cuts will weaken the department’s ability to deliver on foreign policy and humanitarian missions.
Videos posted on social media showed emotional scenes at the department’s main building, where staff were seen hugging and clapping for colleagues leaving with their belongings. Outside, protesters held signs that read “thank you America’s diplomats” and “we all deserve better”.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is currently on a visit to Malaysia, responded to questions about the decision.
“It’s not a consequence of trying to get rid of people,” Rubio said. “But if you close the bureau, you don’t need those positions. Some of these are positions being eliminated, not people.”
Democratic senators from the Foreign Relations Committee disagreed. In a joint statement, they said the mass layoffs would hurt national security.
“The decision to fire hundreds of members of the Civil Service and Foreign Service at the Department of State undermines our national security,” they said.
They also blamed the influence of the failed DOGE restructuring plan linked to Elon Musk’s previous government advisory efforts.
“Blanket and indiscriminate cuts weaken our government’s ability to deliver for the American people in a cost-effective manner,” the statement added.
Earlier this month, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) was officially shut down, with over 80 percent of its programmes cancelled by March. By July 1, its remaining duties had been absorbed by the State Department.
The cuts come after a Supreme Court ruling allowed the Trump administration to continue with plans to downsize the federal workforce, which was part of the president’s long-standing campaign promise to reduce government spending.
