Overview

• Secretary of State Marco Rubio unveiled a plan to reduce the State Department’s domestic offices from 734 to 602, eliminating 132 offices and consolidating functions.
• The reorganization mandates a 15% reduction in domestic staff, with undersecretaries given 30 days to submit detailed downsizing plans.
• Key structural changes include replacing the Undersecretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights with a new Office of Foreign Assistance and Human Rights, while abolishing the Office of Global Criminal Justice.
• The overhaul focuses on domestic operations, with decisions on embassy and overseas post closures pending further review and Congressional approval.
• Critics, including Democratic lawmakers, warn the changes could undermine U.S. influence and weaken humanitarian and human rights programs.