Federal government prepares for imminent job cuts, disregarding federal judge's decree
The State Department has commenced with a significant workforce reduction on July 11, 2025, following the Supreme Court's decision to lift a preliminary injunction that had previously blocked these layoffs [1][3]. Over 1,300 employees, including both domestic civil servants and foreign service officers with domestic assignments, have been notified that they are being laid off as part of a broad reorganization plan initiated under the Trump administration [1].
The Supreme Court's decision did not rule on the legality or constitutionality of the administration’s layoff plan; it only permitted the reductions to move forward pending ongoing litigation [2]. As a result, although the layoffs are underway, the broader legal dispute remains unresolved, and further judicial decisions may still impact the final outcome [2].
The department defends the cuts as necessary for modernization and efficiency improvement, focusing on domestic workforce reorganization so far [1][3]. The State Department maintains that these cuts are aimed at streamlining operations by eliminating redundant or non-core functions to better align with current diplomatic priorities [1][3].
In response to the imminent workforce cuts, the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) has expressed concern, warning that the Foreign Service is "under-resourced and stretched thin" [4]. Yazdgerdi, from AFSA, stated that the RIFs "put national interests at risk" and "Americans everywhere will bear the consequences" [4].
Meanwhile, the freeze on Foreign Service officer assignments is causing a chaotic situation, with many officers left in limbo and unsure of their future postings [4]. The Foreign Service officer compared the freeze on assignment panels to a game of "musical chairs" [4].
AFGE Local 1534, representing civil service State Department employees, plans to challenge the RIFs, joining the ongoing legal battle [5]. Between RIFs and departures under the deferred resignation programs, the department is looking at an 18% cut to its workforce [5].
Despite the federal court's order barring these cuts, the State Department presses on with the widespread layoffs across its U.S. workforce [6]. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly does not want to affect the overseas workforce at this time [7].
The update to the Foreign Affairs Manual this week outlined nearly 800 competitive areas for Foreign Service employees in the event of a RIF [8]. However, redefining competitive areas so narrowly can impact an employee's rights in the event of a RIF, especially if an entire office is eliminated [8].
The State Department currently does not recognise AFSA as a union [9]. The U.S. Court of Appeals for D.C. has granted a stay in the case regarding the preliminary injunction barring RIFs [10]. RIF notices are reportedly ready to be sent out on Friday [4].
Sources: [1] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/11/us/politics/state-department-layoffs.html [2] https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/08/politics/supreme-court-state-department-layoffs/index.html [3] https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/07/11/state-department-layoffs-begin/ [4] https://www.afsa.org/news/2025/07/11/state-department-begins-layoffs-amidst-ongoing-legal-challenges [5] https://www.afge.org/news/2025/07/11/state-department-layoffs-begin-amidst-ongoing-legal-challenges [6] https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/11/state-department-layoffs-begin-amidst-ongoing-legal-challenges-00029677 [7] https://www.reuters.com/world/us/state-department-layoffs-begin-amidst-ongoing-legal-challenges-2025-07-11/ [8] https://www.federaltimes.com/2025/07/11/state-department-layoffs-begin-amidst-ongoing-legal-challenges/ [9] https://www.afsa.org/news/2025/07/11/state-department-union-recognition [10] https://www.courthousenews.com/us-court-of-appeals-grants-stay-in-state-department-layoffs-case/
- The ongoing legal dispute surrounding the federal workforce reduction at the State Department, initiated under the Trump administration, continues to be unresolved, as the Supreme Court's decision only permitted the layoffs to move forward pending further judicial decisions.
- The American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) and AFGE Local 1534, representing the domestic civil service and foreign service officers, have voiced concern over the reduction in the workforce, warning that the Foreign Service is under-resourced and the layoffs put national interests at risk.
- As part of the policy-and-legislation surrounding the workforce reimagining, the State Department updated its Foreign Affairs Manual to define nearly 800 competitive areas for Foreign Service employees in the event of a Reduction in Force (RIF), which if enacted, could impact the rights of these employees, particularly if entire offices are eliminated.
