The State Department is poised to initiate a significant wave of personnel cuts as Secretary of State Marco Rubio embarks on an ambitious restructuring mission.
Reports indicate that this could involve the termination of thousands of employees.
These layoffs may commence as early as Friday.
CNN reported:
The State Department is set to start notifying staff of imminent layoffs, a move linked to Secretary Rubio’s sweeping reforms of the agency. This information was conveyed in an email from Michael Rigas, the Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, sent to employees on Thursday evening.
“Soon, the Department will be reaching out to those impacted by the reduction in force,” Rigas stated in his communication. Reports suggest that these reductions, referred to as reductions in force (RIFs), could take effect as soon as this Friday.
This decision follows a recent Supreme Court ruling that has greenlit the Trump administration’s plans for extensive layoffs and reorganization within the federal government.
In a disclosure to Congress in May, the State Department indicated intentions to cut up to 1,873 personnel from its domestic workforce of 18,730. Additionally, around 1,575 employees have expressed their willingness to leave voluntarily.
The layoffs will encompass both civil and foreign service members working in divisions slated for elimination or overhaul. This reorganization is set to affect over 300 offices and bureaus, as outlined in the Department’s earlier communication to Congress.
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