The Donald Trump administration has laid off over 1,000 employees from the U.S. Department of State as part of a restructuring of the federal workforce.
According to documents obtained by American media, 1,107 civil servants and 246 foreign service members were dismissed against their will. Earlier this year, approximately 1,500 other employees voluntarily left through a reorganization scheme.
The layoffs have particularly impacted the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, as well as the office that coordinated the resettlement of Afghans – a vital part of settling refugees in the United States.
Images shared on social media show employees departing the building with personal belongings in hand, embraced and applauded by colleagues in the hallways. Outside the building, protestors displayed signs reading “Thank you, America’s diplomats” and “We deserve better.”
Critics warn that this mass dismissal will negatively affect the State Department’s capacity to effectively pursue U.S. foreign policy.
