Imminent mass terminations loom for State Department employees, according to departmental declarations

The US State Department has announced widespread layoffs as part of a reorganization plan, with over 3,400 positions expected to be eliminated. According to the plans, approximately 2,000 employees will be laid off, while another 1,400 will leave voluntarily.

The layoffs will impact both civil servants and foreign service officers across various divisions. For instance, the Economic Growth, Energy and Environment division plans to reduce its workforce by 42%, with 198 employees being laid off and another 99 leaving voluntarily. Similarly, the Management division will see a cut of around 15%, with 897 employees being laid off and another 796 choosing to leave through deferred resignations.

The Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs division is set to experience a cut of about 22%, with 88 employees being laid off and another 80 choosing to resign. The Political Affairs division will also see a reduction of about 14%, with 112 employees being laid off and another 162 choosing to resign.

The Foreign Assistance and Humanitarian Affairs division will undergo the most significant reduction, with 386 employees being laid off and another 145 choosing to leave voluntarily, resulting in a 69% reduction. The Arms Control and International Security division will also see a reduction of about 22%, with 141 employees being laid off and another 104 choosing to resign.

The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, responsible for human rights reporting, is expected to lose a significant number of its employees, with many coming from this bureau as part of the restructuring plans. Approximately 700 foreign service officers are expected to be laid off, representing nearly 60% of those employees currently in the US.

The State Secretary, Marco Rubio, has asked all civil service employees to upload their resumes to an internal site in preparation for the reorganization. The exact number of employees receiving layoff notices and the timing of when they will be issued has not been specified, but it is expected to occur as soon as Friday.

The Supreme Court has reversed an injunction that blocked the State Department from carrying out its layoff plan. The Department has changed its own rules for issuing layoff notices, allowing it to lay off employees based on their specific post, region, or bureau. The Department will communicate to affected employees and thank them for their service.

The reorganization will include a "targeted reduction in domestic workforce." The State Secretary's office plans to cut about 12% of its staff, with just 51 employees being laid off and another 189 choosing to resign.

The layoffs are part of a broader reorganization announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which includes eliminating or consolidating hundreds of offices. The State Department has asked staff to ensure all the information in their personnel files is accurate, a common step before RIF notices go out.