U.S. State Department to Implement Workforce Reduction Following Supreme Court Ruling

The U.S. State Department announced the commencement of a significant workforce reduction plan on Friday, following a recent Supreme Court decision on Tuesday, that lifted a lower court’s injunction blocking the Trump administration’s initiative to downsize the federal workforce. The department will begin issuing layoff notices to approximately 1,800 U.S.-based employees, representing about 15 percent of its domestic workforce, in the coming days.The reorganization plan, first unveiled in April 2025 by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, aims to streamline operations, eliminate redundant functions, and align the department with what Rubio has described as “core American values.” The plan includes merging or eliminating more than 300 of the department’s 734 bureaus and offices. An additional 1,575 employees have already opted for deferred resignations, according to plans submitted to Congress in May.The Supreme Court’s 8-1 ruling, with Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissenting, allows the Trump administration to proceed with its broader effort to restructure federal agencies while litigation continues. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, in a concurring opinion, emphasized that the executive order directing the layoffs instructs agencies to act “consistent with applicable law,” leaving room for lower courts to evaluate the legality of specific plans.

Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources Michael J. Rigas informed employees via email on Thursday that the department has made “every effort to support our colleagues who are departing.” The layoffs, expected to begin as early as Friday, follow a period of uncertainty that has significantly impacted morale, with employees expressing concerns about the effects on U.S. diplomacy and national security.

Secretary Rubio, who has called the State Department “bloated” and criticized its bureaucratic inefficiencies, stated that the reductions will enhance the department’s ability to deliver “results-driven diplomacy.” The plan follows President Donald Trump’s February 2025 executive order directing federal agencies to reduce staff and reorganize to improve efficiency.

The American Foreign Service Association, representing U.S. diplomats, estimates that approximately 700 Foreign Service officers based in the United States will be affected, alongside a larger number of civil service workers. Critics, including labor unions and congressional Democrats, have warned that the cuts could undermine U.S. foreign policy and disrupt critical services, particularly amid ongoing global challenges.