Overview

• The Supreme Court lifted its injunction on July 9, enabling the State Department to implement the first wave of cuts on July 10 and 11.
• The 1,350 layoffs represent about 1.6 percent of the department’s workforce and have heavily impacted the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.
• Secretary Rubio’s team reviewed over 700 domestic offices and issued reduction-in-force notices for more than 300 positions deemed duplicative or inefficient.
• Senior officials spent three months compiling an accurate headcount, underscoring longstanding administrative inefficiencies within the department.
• Republican leaders praise the modest reductions as necessary efficiency measures, while Democratic senators and human rights advocates warn they risk undermining U.S. diplomatic capacity and soft power.