The US State Department is dismissing over 1,300 workers under President Donald Trump’s reorganisation plan notified earlier this year.
Reorganisation Plan Details and Layoff Numbers
The revised reorganisation plan, which identified some program cuts and an 18 per cent staff reduction, was notified to the Congress in May.
Layoff warnings will be issued to 1,107 domestic-civilian and 246 foreign service officers with domestic assignments in the US, the Associated Press reported, quoting a high-ranking State Department official.
Separation Timeline and Notification Procedure
The 60-day separation period applies to the civil servants, and impacted foreign service officers will be put straight away on administrative leave for 120 days. Afterwards, they will officially lose their employment, according to an internal memo obtained by AP.
The department had on Thursday informed staffers that layoff letters to some of them would soon be issued.
Streamlining Operations and Focus on Diplomatic Priorities
“In connection with the departmental reorganisation … the department is streamlining domestic operations to focus on diplomatic priorities,” the notice says.
It adds that “headcount reductions” are geared towards “non-core functions, duplicative or redundant offices offices where considerable efficiencies may be found from centralization or consolidation of functions and responsibilities.”
Supreme Court Clearance and Ongoing Legal Challenges
The action follows that the US Supreme Court overruled lower court orders to freeze the cuts. Lawsuits challenging the legality of the firing are still pending.
In a staff notice Thursday, Michael Rigas, the department’s deputy secretary for management and resources, also expressed thanks to staff members for their “dedication and service”.
Programs and Bureaus Set to Be Eliminated
The US State Department letter to the Congress had mentioned that besides removing divisions, it would also eliminate immigration, human rights and democracy promotion programs.
The letter mentioned that it is anticipated that the reorganisation would impact over 300 bureaus and offices, particularly departments that were carrying out work which is ambiguous or overlapping with other departments.
The State Department also is planning to eliminate bureaus aimed at monitoring America’s role in Afghanistan, AP said.
Secretary Rubio’s Justification of Reforms
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the officials has taken “a very deliberate step” to make the State Department “more efficient and more focused”.
Speaking to reporters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Thursday, Rubio said the decision was not a consequence of “trying to get rid of people”.
Rubio: Eliminating Positions, Not Individuals
“If you close the bureau, you don’t need those positions…Understand that some of these are positions that are being eliminated, not people,” AP quoted Rubio as saying.
He explained that among these cuts are jobs that are not occupied or will be soon empty due to an employee’s premature retirement.
