US State Department to Lay off Over 1,350 Employees
The United States Department of State is set to begin laying off more than 1,350 employees starting Friday, as part of a sweeping reform plan under President Donald Trump's administration aimed at reshaping the American diplomatic corps.
The unprecedented move has drawn strong criticism from former diplomats and analysts who warn it could significantly weaken US foreign policy efforts.
According to an internal memo distributed to staff, the layoffs will
affect
1,107 civil service employees and 246 members of the domestic diplomatic staff. This marks one of the most significant workforce reductions in the department's recent history.
The restructuring comes amid ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to reduce federal spending and streamline government operations.
The State Department has faced mounting pressure in recent years to modernize its systems and cut operational costs. Still, many fear the changes could undermine the country's ability to project influence abroad and maintain effective diplomatic engagement.
Since taking office, President Trump has pushed for institutional reforms across the federal government, including the Department of State. His approach focuses on reducing workforce numbers and overhauling legacy structures.
However, the strategy has provoked concern among foreign policy experts, who argue that such deep staffing cuts risk diminishing America's global diplomatic reach at a time of increasing international complexity.
read more
Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685
NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria
Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO
Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided
News
Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks
News
Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank
News
Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region
News
One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid
News
Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters
News
China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier
Sports
Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer
Videos & Features
Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall
Lifestyle
Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt
Business
Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War
News
"Tensions Escalate: Iran Probes Allegations of Indian Tech Collaboration with Israeli Intelligence"
News
Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks
Arts & Culture
Hawass Foundation Launches 1st Course to Teach Ancient Egyptian Language
Videos & Features
Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mada
an hour ago
- Mada
Israel kills 12 Palestinians waiting for drinking water in central Gaza, including 8 children
Twelve people, including eight children, were killed on Sunday in an Israeli airstrike on a water distribution point in Nuseirat, central Gaza. The attack, one of dozens of airstrikes launched on the same day, represents the latest in a series of blows in which Israel has systematically undermined access to water for Palestinians in the strip, the Gaza Government Media Office said on Monday. Footage from the site shortly after the attack showed a large number of injured from among the crowds that had gathered with gallon containers to fetch water. Civilians could be seen carrying the injured, many of whom were young children, away from the scene. A picture from the targeted site on Monday showed the charred remains of a water tanker truck on a road in northeast Nuseirat. The driver was killed in the airstrike, according to Al Jazeera correspondent Ramy Abu Taima, who said that the tanker was filled with drinking water. Al-Awda Hospital in Nuseirat published an initial report on Monday announcing the arrival of 'eight martyrs, including six children, and 16 injuries, including seven children, as a result of the Israeli Occupation targeting a water distribution point in the New Camp area.' Gaza's Government Media Office updated the toll of the attack on Monday to twelve people in total. An Israeli military spokesperson, meanwhile, reportedly claimed that the missile with which it targeted a water distribution point had missed its target, which was a member of Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The Israeli Broadcasting Authority quoted the spokesperson as saying that the incident is under review. But over 110 freshwater filling stations have been targeted by Israeli aircraft over the past two years, the Government Media Office said, killing hundreds of civilians as they queue for drinking water. The attacks are part of the 'systematic and deliberate war of deprivation' of people in the Gaza Strip, in which 'water is a collective weapon of war to exterminate the population,'the media office said. Over 700 water wells have also been destroyed, depriving more than one million Palestinians of access to clean water. The Mekorot water supply, the last major source of water supply to the Gaza Strip, has been cut off since January 23, according to the office statement.
Al-Ahram Weekly
an hour ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
French ambassador affirms strong Egypt ties, insists Palestinians must remain on their land - Foreign Affairs
French Ambassador to Cairo Eric Chevalier affirmed the strength of French-Egyptian relations, saying they had reached an 'exceptional' level following President Emmanuel Macron's recent visit to Egypt. The visit, he stated, created a decisive visual moment that resonated with both peoples and saw the signing of several agreements. Among them was a strategic partnership that laid the foundation for expanded cooperation in health, education, transport, and energy. Speaking at the French Embassy's Bastille Day celebration in Cairo, Chevalier said French companies would continue to grow their presence in Egypt and contribute to job creation. As part of the partnership, Egypt will become the first country to host a branch of Gustave Roussy, one of the world's top oncology centres. In education, 40 agreements were signed to strengthen scientific cooperation and increase the number of French schools in Egypt from 60 to 100. In sports, Chevalier noted cooperation between the Egyptian and French football associations to support Egypt's women's U-17 and U-20 teams, part of the embassy's commitment to gender equality and equal opportunity. On Gaza, Chevalier said Egypt and France were fully aligned. He called for an immediate ceasefire and voiced strong support for Egypt's role in ongoing negotiations. He also rejected the latest mechanism for delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza, saying it endangered civilians and contradicted international norms. 'We demand the return of the traditional mechanism that respects humanitarian rules through the United Nations (UN) and its agencies,' he said. Chevalier stressed France's support for Egypt's rejection of Palestinian displacement. He stressed that Palestinians must remain on their land and that there is no such thing as a voluntary relocation under current conditions. He reaffirmed that a political solution must include recognition of a Palestinian state, stressing that France is fully determined to achieve these two goals, and its decisions are sovereign. Chevalier also noted that the postponed two-state solution conference—initially scheduled for June at the UN headquarters in New York and co-hosted with Saudi Arabia—would now be held before the end of September, with Egypt and the Arab League playing key roles in preparations. He added that recognizing a Palestinian state does not conflict with Israeli interests, explaining that if both parties want to live in peace, there is no alternative but the two-state solution because it also serves Israel's security interests. Chevalier announced that classics of French literature would be available in local bookstores at symbolic prices starting in September. Higher Education Minister Dr Ayman Ashour, who attended the event, welcomed France's growing scientific cooperation with Egypt. The ceremony opened with the national anthems of both countries and a performance by singer Shahd Al-Saadani, who sang a selection of classic French songs. A slew of Egyptian and foreign diplomats, ministers, artists, and media figures atteneded the event. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
an hour ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Syria government forces take over Druze village in south: AFP - Region
Syrian government forces were advancing toward the southern city of Sweida on Monday after taking control of a Druze village nearby, an AFP correspondent said, on the second day of secterian clashes there. Security forces were deployed in Sweida province following clashes between Druze fighters and Bedouin tribes that killed at least 89 people since Sunday. The AFP correspondent saw forces under the Syrian defence ministry deployed in Al-Mazraa village, where Bedouin fighters were also located. The forces continued to advance in the direction of Sweida city. A commander, Ezzeddine al-Shamayer, told AFP the forces "are heading toward Sweida". Druze spiritual leaders called for calm and urged Damascus to intervene. The Israeli army said on Monday that it struck several tanks between the villages of Al-Mazraa and Sami that were heading to Sweida. It claimed that it would not allow the establishment of what it claimed as a "military threat in southern Syria and will operate against it". Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz claimed the Israeli new attack on Syria aimed at preventing the army from reaching the village. The Israeli strikes were "a message and a clear warning to the Syrian regime -- we will not allow harm to be done to the Druze in Syria. Israel will not stand idly by," he wrote on X. The fighting underscores the challenges facing interim Syrian leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, whose Islamist forces ousted president Bashar al-Assad in December. The latest fighting, which began Sunday, continued sporadically into Monday in several villages, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor and the Suwayda 24 news outlet. The clashes reportedly erupted when a Druze vegetable vendor was seized by armed Bedouins on the main highway linking Sweida to Damascus. The incident triggered a series of retaliatory abductions by both sides. Syria's defence and interior ministries announced the deployment of military units to the affected areas, the establishment of safe corridors for civilians, and a commitment to "end the clashes quickly and decisively". Bedouin and Druze factions have a longstanding feud in Sweida, and violence occasionally erupts between the two. A surge in violence in March targeting the Alawite community -- with more than 1,700 killed -- and the subsequent attacks on Druze areas have undermined confidence in the new Syrian authorities' ability to protect minorities. Israel -- which has occupied part of Syria's Golan Heights since 1967 -- cited the protection of the Druze to justify several strikes, including one in early May near the presidential palace in Damascus. Since the ouster of Assad, Israel has carried out numerous strikes in Syria, destroying much of the country's military infrastructure and arsenal. It has also deployed troops into the United Nations-patrolled buffer zone on the Golan Heights, further occupying parts of Syrian land. * This story was edited by Ahram Online. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
