US State Department lays off many staff in tears

The U.S. State Department began to lay off more than 1,300 employees on the 11th. On the same day, dozens of dismissed employees appeared outside the State Department, many of whom were in tears, and other colleagues and supporters applauded them. According to the video description posted on the social platform on the 11th, the dismissed employees walked out of the building, some in tears, and some holding boxes. State Department employees gathered nearby to applaud their fired colleagues. The report also said that at the same time as the layoffs began on the 11th, messages supporting the dismissed employees could be seen everywhere in the lobby of the U.S. State Department’s headquarters in Washington, thanking them for their service. Signs were also posted in the building, urging the remaining employees to “remember and stick to the oath you have read.” It is understood that on the same day, dozens of diplomats, congressmen, State Department staff, etc. held signs and protested outside the U.S. State Department. Their signs included “Thank you American diplomats” and “We all deserve better treatment.” The layoffs are part of the restructuring reform launched by the U.S. State Department in April this year. Of the approximately 18,000 employees working in the U.S. State Department in the country, nearly 3,000 will eventually leave. The notice said that the layoffs involved “non-core functions, duplicate or redundant departments” within the US State Department, as well as units that can greatly improve work efficiency through centralization. According to previous media reports, some related agencies involved in democracy and human rights, diversity, refugees and other matters will be closed. The US State Department will also optimize domestic agencies and strengthen its diplomatic responsibilities. US Secretary of State Rubio once said that the size and spending of the State Department have soared in the past 15 years, and it is necessary to streamline and reorganize it to make it more in line with President Trump’s “America First” agenda. Since US President Trump came to power again, his government has been vigorously reducing the number of federal employees. So far, nearly 60,000 federal employees have been fired, and this round of layoffs at the State Department is its latest round of layoffs.