State Department Unveils Major Reorganization Plan: 18% Staff Cut and Program Reductions

The State Department has informed Congress of a significant reorganization plan, proposing deeper cuts to programs and an 18% reduction in U.S. staff. This update, revealed in a notification letter obtained by The Associated Press, aligns with the Trump administration’s efforts to reshape American diplomacy and reduce the federal government’s size. The plan includes a higher reduction of domestic staff than initially suggested and the elimination of divisions overseeing America’s two-decade involvement in Afghanistan, including an office focused on resettling Afghan nationals who worked with the U.S. military.

The reorganization aims to refocus on core U.S. foreign policy objectives and contemporary diplomacy needs, eliminating offices deemed to have unclear or overlapping work. Secretary of State Marco Rubio believes that effective modern diplomacy requires streamlining the bureaucracy. The plan also targets programs related to refugees, immigration, human rights, and democracy promotion, which the Trump administration views as ideologically driven and incompatible with its priorities.

Bureaus set to be cut include the Office of Global Women’s Issues and diversity and inclusion efforts. The women’s issues office is being eliminated to ensure women’s rights and empowerment are prioritized across the department’s diplomatic engagement. Efforts to cut Afghan programs have drawn backlash from veterans groups and advocates, who argue this is a deliberate dismantling rather than streamlining. The Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts (CARE) office, created to help Afghans eligible for resettlement, will be realigned to the Afghanistan Affairs Office. Critics view this elimination as a betrayal of American values and promises.