Democrats slam State Department cuts
Photo: US State Department building (Getty Images)
Democratic Party lawmakers have appealed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, urging him to abandon plans to cut the State Department’s staff, according to Bloomberg.
A group of 60 Democratic members of the US House of Representatives has urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to halt initiatives aimed at downsizing the State Department staff, lifting the hiring freeze, and limiting the Foreign Service entrance exam to just three sessions per year.
In a letter spearheaded by Virginia Congressman Don Beyer, lawmakers expressed concern over reports that the Trump administration plans to lay off around 700 Foreign Service officers currently serving in domestic roles across the United States.
According to the authors, such measures would deprive the country of vital personnel resources at a time when diplomacy is more crucial than ever.
They emphasized that effectively punishing diplomats for serving domestically contradicts the principles of a sound and priority-based reorganization, one that should retain skilled professionals and respect the unique nature of diplomatic service.
The letter also warned that canceling the February and June Foreign Service entrance exams would slow down recruitment and hinder the renewal of the diplomatic workforce.
The American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), which serves both as a union and professional body, stated it "unequivocally opposes the State Department’s unilateral changes to the Foreign Service workforce reduction procedures, which seriously weaken America’s ability to conduct foreign policy at one of the most critical geopolitical moments in recent memory."
AFSA pointed out that the proposed changes contradict existing guidance from April 22, which states that the officer’s current assignment location should not be a factor in downsizing decisions. The organization warned that the new rules could lead to sweeping purges and set a dangerous precedent of altering established norms under the guise of efficiency.
Secretary Marco Rubio previously defended the restructuring, saying it was designed to make the State Department less bureaucratic and more agile amid a new era of global competition.
He said cutting programs and closing some divisions would help better align the Department’s work with the Trump administration’s foreign policy goals.
The State Department declined to comment on the letter from lawmakers, saying it does not publicly discuss correspondence with Congress.
Government downsizing in US
Since taking office for a second term, President Donald Trump’s administration has begun slashing the federal workforce to reduce spending.
As part of this broader reform, Trump shut down the US Department of Education, calling it harmful to American interests.
Additionally, the White House has recommended that the State Department halt funding for programs that investigate war crimes.
