Diplomacy
Cut first, measure later: Watchdogs find problems across foreign affairs agency reorganizations
Among the findings, the inspector general for the State Department reported that the government is spending $3.2 million biweekly on administrative leave for employees who received reduction in force notices last year.
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State’s overseas housing rules haven’t kept up with the times, GAO says
The agency is still using standards tied to the D.C. housing market of 1991 to determine how much space employees stationed abroad can have.
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Stalled onboarding of Foreign Service fellows draws questions from lawmakers
Multiple programs that agencies use to recruit new employees have been upended by the Trump administration’s civil service reforms.
Why the US went to war without a plan to evacuate DOD civilians, contractors, and others
A diplomatic veteran cites operational secrecy—and describes how things might have gone better.
After confusion, State will move forward with hundreds of layoffs
A judge said a statutory moratorium on RIFs does not require they be withdrawn entirely.
State becomes the latest agency to proceed with RIFs despite statutory pause
The deal to end the shutdown placed a moratorium on any action to implement layoffs, but some agency are moving forward anyway.
‘I have no idea what I’m going to do:’ Feds abroad fret about making rent without pay or subsidies during shutdown
Some employees say their foreign landlords have little sympathy for their “U.S. issue.”
Shortly after laying off hundreds, State hires new class of foreign service staff
The hiring-firing combination is "the definition of wasteful government spending,” according to one staffer.
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The State Department laid them off, then it promoted them
The department is sending a message that "even excellence cannot protect your career," union says.
State Department lays off 1,350 employees
The department says the cuts, part of a reorganization that will see 3,000 total personnel reductions, will slash redundancy and walk back growth over the last 25 years.
State Department tells employees mass layoffs are imminent
State is poised to be the first agency to move forward with RIFs after receiving the Supreme Court's blessing.
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State Dept. further prepares for mass layoffs even as court block remains
A judge specified last month that State, like most major agencies, cannot yet move forward with RIFs.
Breaking News
Judge blocks State Department layoffs
The Trump administration has sought special dispensation to imminently cut staff at State, but employees won a—potentially short-lived—reprieve.
State Department ‘appears’ to be violating court order by issuing layoffs as soon as June 13, judge says
The Trump administration says it has paused planned RIFs at 17 agencies, but State is “a special case.”
Here's where the State Department is planning its layoffs and changes
Various national security offices, as well as units that cover Asia and the Middle East, will be consolidated or slashed. Thousands of employees across divisions are targeted for cuts.
Exclusive
State Dept. cuts poised to be more severe than previously outlined with 3,400 employees on the chopping block
There were bipartisan concerns from lawmakers about a planned break-up of the Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy, according to meeting notes. Office eliminations are expected by June 2.
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State to slash 15% of domestic staff, eliminate 132 offices
Layoffs expected by July 1, though embassy and overseas closures are not yet part of the plan
Rubio denies that Trump will politicize the Foreign Service and slash embassies
State Department says a draft executive order, which would have created new loyalty requirements for career staff and eliminated many offices, is fake. A reorganization of the department is still expected shortly.
Experts fear global media agency’s gutting will strip key tools against foreign propaganda
U.S. Agency for Global Media programs serve a critical function in the face of U.S. adversaries’ efforts to wage information warfare against American allies and regions of critical interest, an influence operations analyst said.
What does the head of the State Department do?
The secretary of state has an expansive job that could make or break peace deals and key foreign alliances.
