The US State Department has announced plans for mass layoffs as part of the largest reorganization of the country’s diplomatic service in decades. This will affect about 15% of the internal staff of the State Department, informs The Guardian.
According to officials, these cuts are designed to bring the department’s activities in line with the vision of Donald Trump, who emphasizes the principle of “America first.”
The layoffs, officially classified as “reductions in force” (RIFs), along with voluntary severance programs, will affect about 15 percent of the State Department’s internal staff. A senior official of the department clarified that it is about 1,800 employees. As part of the reorganization, several hundred bureaus will either be merged or completely eliminated. The State Department plays a key role in US foreign policy strategy and advises the president.
“In the coming days, the agency will notify the employees affected by the layoffs. First of all, we want to thank them for their dedication and service to the United States.” said a memo signed by Undersecretary of State for Management and Resources Michael Rigas officially announcing the layoffs.
Representatives of the State Department explained that the purpose of the changes is to eliminate duplication of functions and structures. They cited the example of having three separate offices dealing with sanctions policy, and pointed to the over-expansion of some departments that occurred after the end of the Cold War under Bill Clinton.
“We analyzed which functions are duplicated, overlap or no longer correspond to the priorities of the president’s foreign policy in the post-Cold War world”, the State Department said in a statement.
The changes should strengthen the role of regional offices by simplifying the management structure. In addition, the influence of political appointees is expected to increase, making the State Department’s unwieldy structure more manageable for the Trump administration.
“A lot is about duplicate offices, the functions of which will be transferred to regional offices and our embassies abroad, that is, those who are closest to the places where diplomacy takes place,” – noted one of the officials.
Some offices dealing with immigration and democracy promotion are undergoing major changes in their operations amid the Trump administration’s skepticism about traditional approaches to American diplomacy abroad.
