More than 1,000 people laid off at US State Department
CBS News reported that nearly all civil service officers in the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration's office of admissions - a programme that resettles refugees in the US - were cut. Individuals who worked for the State Department's Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts (CARE) office were also among the cuts. Videos shared on social media show civil service members in the lobby of the department, leaving the building with their belongings. Other employees are seen applauding former colleagues and hugging one another. Outside the building protesters gathered with signs that read "Thank you to Americas diplomats" and "We all deserve better".
"It's not a consequence of trying to get rid of people," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said while in Malaysia on Thursday. "But if you close the bureau, you don't need those positions. Understand that some of these are positions that are being eliminated, not people."Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee issued a statement saying the "decision to fire hundreds of members of the Civil Service and Foreign Service at the Department of State undermines our national security"."While there are targeted reforms that our government can pursue to maximize the impact of every tax dollar, that's not what this is," the senators wrote. "Blanket and indiscriminate cuts - the legacy from Elon Musk's failed DOGE effort - weaken our government's ability to deliver for the American people in a cost-effective manner."The layoffs come just days after the Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration's plan to slash the sized of the federal workforce could move forward. Earlier this year, in a letter notifying Congress of the department's intention to reduce its workforce by 18% through voluntary departures and layoff, the department said it had more than 18,700 US-based employees. The cuts to the workforce originate from a campaign promise from President Donald Trump cut government spending. Earlier this month, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) officially closed its doors, at the directive of the Trump administration. More than 80% of all the agency's programmes were cancelled as of March, and on 1 July the remainder were formally absorbed by the state department.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Epstein 'cover-up' civil war exposes deep fractures and dirty secrets at the heart of MAGA
When a group of MAGA 'influencers' marched out of the Oval Office holding up white binders filled with the 'Epstein files', Donald Trump 's base immediately sensed something was off. Fast-forward to five months later and Donald Trump's cabinet is cracking wide open with FBI chiefs Dan Bongino and Kash Patel threatening to resign unless Attorney General Pam Bondi is fired. The biggest names in MAGA media - Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly and Steve Bannon - have sounded their colossal mega horns over the escalating crisis. Now ugly fractures are emerging and dirty secrets are being leaked across Washington DC. In the twisted web of Epstein conspiracy theories, heated anti-Israel rhetoric has emerged at a time when Trump is already facing criticism over supporting Benjamin Netanyahu 's bombing campaign. MAGA lawmakers like, like Marjorie Taylor Greene, has been accused of anti-Semitism, while former Fox host Carlson is facing claims that he is taking money from the Qatari government. Greene and Carlson vehemently deny the allegations. At the end of February, the White House invited a cadre of conservative influencers for a visit, and presented them with big white binders which purportedly contained the oft-touted 'Epstein files'. The photo-op was led by Bondi in the Oval Office and she later assured the public that her Department of Justice had the dossiers which were being reviewed for release. But it soon turned out that there was nothing at all substantive in the white folders handed to the influencers - and the debacle became known as 'binder gate.' Bondi last week was forced to retract her statement that the files were 'sitting on my desk' and instead told the American people that there was, in fact, no 'client list'. The DOJ released a video showing the outside of Epstein's cell at the Manhattan jail where he allegedly hung himself. But Trump's MAGA base is still fuming that the Epstein Files have not been entirely released to the public. Former Fox News personality turned independent journalist Tucker Carlson is one the biggest voices sowing division in Trump's MAGA-right. During a speech at Turning Point USA's Student Action Summit this weekend, Carlson went after the Trump admin for the alleged Epstein 'cover-up.' Conservative internet personality Arynne Wexler told the Daily Mail that if you listen to Carlson's latest speech at the Turning Point USA Student Action Summit, 'he's like the narcissistic, toxic ex-boyfriend, where nothing's ever good enough and the goalpost is ever moving and you can never reach it. 'He's complaining that Trump hasn't done enough.' Wexler also added that Carlson 'even insulted Riley Gaines, talking about how men on women's sports teams don't matter.' 'I mean, there was really nothing about what he said that sounded conservative or like of the right', Wexler concluded. Conservative podcaster Megyn Kelly, a one-time Trump enemy turned ally during the 2024 election wrote on X that she was 'sure it's a relief for Pam Bondi to hear the president is still in her corner. Unfortunately, huge swaths of the party are not. She repeatedly misled on Epstein. Then didn't have the courage to explain herself. Suddenly, she's camera shy & no Qs allowed. Good luck!' War Room podcast host and a former White House strategist from Trump's first term Steve Bannon noted in his own speech at the Turning Point USA Summit that in his view, 'Epstein is a key that picks the lock on so many things, not just individuals, but also Institutions, Intelligence, Institutions, Foreign Governments, and who was working with him on our Intelligence Apparatus and in our Government.' Foreign influence in America's government and politics is something that has been questioned on both the left and right. But, some of the biggest characters who point fingers at others have the biggest questions about their own backers. During Carlson's Turning Point speech, he made claims that both Epstein and long-term Democrat donor turned Trump 2024 backer Bill Ackman only gained prominence, and in turn wealth, due to secret ties to the Israeli government. Ackman notably promptly refuted Carlson's claims, additionally stating on X that although he used to enjoy Carlson's Fox show, now the media mogul 'has gone off the reservation, in particular about Iran, Israel, and the Middle East.' 'Some say his politics relate to where his business' funding comes from and some say he just doesn't like Jews. I have no idea what motivates him and why he appears to be a changed man.' Ackman added. Carlson addressed allegations that he was being funded by Qatar in a recent episode of his show, stating that 'for the record, of course, I've never taken a dollar from anybody. I don't even have investors.' In 2023, the Daily Mail reported that Carlson's independent media venture was backed to the tune of $15 million by Omeed Malik, an American citizen with an Iranian mother and Pakistani father. Carlson and Malik had previous experience in the media business together. In 2020, Mailk joined the Daily Caller as a minority investor/owner and contributing editor. Within Trump's own administration, characters loyal to the MAGA base are not afraid to point fingers at their own colleagues. President Donald Trump's FBI head Kash Patel and deputy Dan Bongino are both ready to call it quits if Attorney General Pam Bondi keeps her job after the debacle over releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files. Bongino, the FBI's deputy director, made the ultimatum after an epic clash with Bondi on Wednesday over the Justice Department's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, the Daily Mail revealed this week. The rift was so bad that Bongino took the day off work on Friday, leading some to think that he had already left his post, Axios first reported. Meanwhile, Trump's congressional allies are doing their best to play both sides on the issue of Epstein, hoping to remain in the good graces of both Trump and his base, which is undoubtedly splintering. Florida Congresswoman Marjorie-Taylor Greene, one of the typically most MAGA-aligned voices on the right said during an appearance on Real America's Voice (RAV) last week that she for one wasn't buying that there wasn't more to the Epstein story. 'I think the Department of Justice and the FBI has more explaining to do. This is Jeffrey Epstein; this is the most famous pedophile in modern-day history,' Taylor Greene told RAV. 'And people are absolutely not going to accept just a memo that was written that says there is no client list,' Taylor Greene concluded.
The Independent
3 hours ago
- The Independent
Nigeria's ex-president Buhari, twice leader of Africa's most populous nation, dies aged 82
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference.
The Guardian
3 hours ago
- The Guardian
Trump wants to ‘remake' Fema, not eliminate it, Kristi Noem says
Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, said on Sunday that Donald Trump wants to have the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) 'remade' instead of eradicated entirely. In a new interview on Sunday with NBC, Noem defended the Trump administration's response to the deadly Texas floods that have killed at least 120 people, saying: 'I think the president recognizes that Fema should not exist the way that it always has been. It needs to be redeployed in a new way, and that's what we did during this response.' Noem added: 'I think he wants it to be remade so that it's an agency that is new in how it deploys and supports states.' Her comments follow widespread criticism of the Trump administration's handling of the Texas floods as reports emerged of thousands of calls from flood survivors being left unanswered by Fema's call centers due to unextended contracts. Earlier this week, the New York Times reported that Fema did not answer nearly two-thirds of calls to its disaster assistance line. The outlet also reported that Noem, who implemented a new policy that she personally signs off on contracts over $100,000, did not renew the contracts until five days after they expired in the middle of the floods. Noem decried the reports as 'fake news', saying: 'That report needs to be validified. I'm not certain it's accurate, and I'm not sure where it came from, and the individuals who are giving you information out of Fema, I'd love to have them put their names behind it because the anonymous attacks to politicize the situation is completely wrong.' Noem went on to acknowledge her policy of personally signing off on contracts worth more than $100,000, saying: 'It's not extra red tape, it's making sure everything is getting to my level, and that it's immediately responded to.' She also praised Fema's response as the 'best response' in years to the Texas floods, saying: 'This response was by far the best response we've seen out of Fema, the best response we've seen out of the federal government in many, many years, and certainly much better than what we saw under Joe Biden.' Despite Noem's defense of the agency and the Trump administration's handling of the crisis, many have criticized Fema as the downsized agency has seen approximately 2,000 resignations and retirements since Trump's inauguration. Speaking to the Guardian, Michael Coen, Fema's former chief of staff, said: 'I'm concerned that Fema is going to be at a disadvantage because they don't have the resources to respond to the disasters we know could happen, which could be two or three concurrent disasters at the same time. 'Fema has eroded capacity since President Trump became president. Staff have departed. There have been cuts to grant programs and they are going to be running into a financial challenge with the disaster relief fund, because the president hasn't requested supplemental funding from Congress.' Since taking office, Trump has routinely threatened to disband the agency which was set up by Jimmy Carter in 1979 following states' struggle to handle major disasters. In June, Trump said that he planned to start 'phasing out' Fema after hurricane season and that states would receive federal aid to respond to natural disasters. 'We're going to give out less money,' Trump said. Last month, Noem also said that Fema 'fundamentally needs to go away as it exists', adding that states should have more responsibility when handling natural disasters. However, since the Texas floods, which mark Trump's first major natural disaster since taking office in January, his administration's rhetoric on eliminating Fema has appeared to shift. Earlier this week, upon being asked whether he still plans to phase out the agency, Trump said it was a matter 'we can talk about later'. Similarly, the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, told reporters that the federal government's response to natural disasters was a 'policy discussion that will continue'.
