The State Department plans to remove more than 1,300 employees after the Supreme Court permitted federal workforce reductions.
“In connection with the departmental reorganization … the department is streamlining domestic operations to focus on diplomatic priorities,” the notice, obtained by the Associated Press, says. “Headcount reductions have been carefully tailored to affect non-core functions, duplicative or redundant offices, and offices where considerable efficiencies may be found from centralization or consolidation of functions and responsibilities.”
The notice was sent to 1,107 civil servants and 246 foreign service employees.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters during a Thursday press briefing that reorganization is expected to move “quickly.”
“I think it’s fair to say that with [everything] else that happens here, it will happen quickly. This is not going to be an extended wait for people who are listening and watching in this building or fellow Americans at home and around the world,” she said. “This will happen quickly. We understand that there has been a delay, not to our interests but because of the courts. It has been – it’s been difficult when you know you need to get something done for the benefit of everyone. So it will be – it will be quickly. I cannot give you the timing. And again, won’t discuss any legal aspects that may have arisen as well.”
Earlier this week, the Supreme Court ruled 8-1 that the Trump administration can proceed with its intention to reduce the federal workforce. The Court lifted an injunction from a lower court that blocked Trump’s executive order calling for “large-scale reductions in force (RIFs).”
