Trump administration begins firing over 1,350 State Department staff amid global crises

In a sweeping and controversial move, the U.S. State Department began laying off more than 1,350 domestically based employees on Friday, marking the start of what officials are calling an unprecedented restructuring of America’s diplomatic corps under President Donald Trump’s administration.

According to internal memos and sources within the department, the dismissals include 1,107 civil service employees and 246 foreign service officers.

All were stationed in the United States and received formal notice of termination effective immediately or within the coming weeks.

The shakeup comes at a time of heightened global instability, with the United States heavily engaged on multiple diplomatic fronts — including Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, the nearly two-year conflict in Gaza, and escalating tensions between Israel and Iran that have kept the Middle East on edge.

Critics from both major political parties swiftly condemned the move, warning it could severely impair America’s capacity to respond to international crises and protect its strategic interests.

“This is a dangerous gutting of our diplomatic infrastructure at a time when steady hands and deep expertise are needed more than ever,” said Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

“It sends the wrong message to our allies and adversaries alike.”

A senior Trump administration official defended the firings as necessary to “streamline bloated bureaucracy” and refocus the department on “America-first diplomacy.”

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the goal is to replace “entrenched careerists” with a leaner team aligned with the president’s foreign policy vision.

However, current and former diplomats expressed concern over the loss of institutional knowledge and the potential for long-term damage to the country’s global standing.

“This is not reform — it’s demolition,” said a former U.S. ambassador who requested anonymity.

“You cannot purge more than a thousand experienced professionals and expect continuity or credibility abroad.”

While the State Department has yet to release a public statement detailing the criteria or timeline for the layoffs, internal sources say further personnel changes could follow in the coming months.

As the restructuring unfolds, U.S. embassies and consulates around the world are reportedly bracing for reduced support and delayed instructions from Washington — potentially weakening America’s ability to influence events in volatile regions.

The mass layoffs mark one of the most significant shakeups in the department’s history and reflect President Trump’s broader campaign to overhaul the federal bureaucracy during his second term.