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2w ago

State Department to Issue RIF Notices to More Than 1,500 Employees

The Supreme Court lifted a lower-court injunction to clear the way for the final phase of Secretary Rubio’s America First reorganization.

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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

  • Over 1,500 domestic staff will receive Reduction in Force notices as soon as Friday, marking the start of the final stage of the department’s overhaul.
  • The Supreme Court’s early July decision removed the injunction that had halted planned layoffs since mid-June.
  • The reductions amount to roughly 15% of the Washington-based workforce, with about 1,575 employees having already opted for voluntary departures.
  • More than 300 State Department offices and bureaus in Washington will be dissolved or merged and their functions shifted to regional bureaus and overseas embassies.
  • Lawmakers and career diplomats warn the cuts could weaken U.S. diplomatic capacity amid heightened global challenges under the administration’s America First strategy.