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State Department to Issue Mass Layoff Notices After Supreme Court Lifts Injunction

The move follows a Supreme Court decision lifting a lower-court injunction, allowing the State Department to begin cutting about 15 percent of its domestic staff.

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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio attends a greeting ceremony for Norwegian Foreign Minister Barth Eide at the State Department June 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. Rubio and Eide were expected to discuss a range of bilateral issues during their meeting.
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Overview

  • Deputy Secretary Michael Rigas told domestic staff to expect Reduction in Force notices as early as Friday, kicking off the execution phase of the reorganization.
  • The RIF could impact between 1,500 and 3,400 employees, equal to about 15 percent of the State Department’s U.S. workforce and affecting over 300 offices and bureaus.
  • Secretary Rubio’s plan aims to consolidate more than 300 domestic offices into a leaner structure focused on “results-driven diplomacy,” with no cuts planned at overseas posts.
  • The Supreme Court’s July 8 decision lifted a district court injunction that had blocked the planned federal layoffs, removing the final legal barrier to the reorganization.
  • Critics including the American Foreign Service Association warn that the timing of mass layoffs risks undercutting U.S. diplomatic readiness and eroding workforce morale.