The State Department executed mass layoffs on Friday, July 11, 2025, following a Supreme Court decision that cleared the Trump administration’s reorganization plan. A total of 1,353 employees were cut, including 1,107 civil servants and 246 foreign service officers. The move marks one of the largest personnel reductions in the department’s history and is part of a broader effort to consolidate federal agencies and eliminate what the administration calls non-core functions.
Affected foreign service officers were placed on 120-day administrative leave, while civil servants entered a 60-day separation window. Staff were instructed to report in person, surrender government-issued equipment, and begin outprocessing immediately. Offices focused on refugee resettlement, human rights, and democracy promotion were among those targeted for closure. The reorganization impacts more than 300 bureaus and offices, with nearly 3,400 domestic jobs slated for elimination. Overseas posts remain unaffected.
🚨 BREAKING: State Department employees are preparing for MASS LAYOFFS as soon as Friday, after SCOTUS cleared the way for the Trump administration’s termination plans, per Semafor
HELL YES!
DISMANTLE the Deep State Department! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/oRpLKCJsIj
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) July 10, 2025
Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the cuts during a press briefing in Kuala Lumpur. He stated that the department is “streamlining domestic operations to focus on diplomatic priorities.” The administration says the layoffs are tied to office closures, not individual performance. More than 1,575 employees had already opted for deferred resignation packages earlier this year.
The Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, coordinated the restructuring. USAID was absorbed into the State Department last week. The administration argues that the changes will restore focus and reduce duplication. Critics warn that the cuts will weaken America’s diplomatic capacity at a time of global instability.
The Supreme Court’s unsigned order did not rule on the legality of the executive order but allowed the administration to proceed. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented, warning that the decision permits the president to reconfigure the federal government without congressional oversight. Legal challenges are still pending.
The layoffs were carried out in a single day. Staff were told to collect personal items and prepare for badge collection. The department now enters a transition phase to implement its new organizational chart.
Sources:
https://www.newsweek.com/state-department-layoffs-trump-rubio-reorganization-2025-2097778
