State Secretary Marco Rubio started Mass firingOn Monday, in the State Department, a lean foreign policy force is part of a restructuring plan, which he argues, will allow the United States to give more condemnable response by removing bureaucracy layers.
Department sent Force reduction (RIF) planned to further cut its workforce to around 1,100 civil servants and 250 foreign service officers posted in the US on Friday morning.
Employees were directed to report to the office on Friday with their laptops, telephones, diplomatic passports and any other property of the department.
The move inspired heavy pushbacks from Democrats and former diplomats, who said that the administration is risking national security by reducing its diplomatic footprint.
Rubio, who is also the National Security Advisor to President Trump, unveiled One reorganization planFor the state department in April, with a plan to get rid of 132 offices and to turn 137 other offices within the department.
America’s top diplomat stated that the trimmed on Thursday “is a very intentional step to reorganize the state department to be more efficient and more concentrated.”
“This is not the result of trying to get rid of people. But if you close the bureau, you do not need those positions. Understand that there are some of these posts that are being abolished, not people,” Rubio told reportersWhile in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Here are three takeaets from Friday’s cut:
Democrats increase diplomatic alarms
Democrats in the Congress, former and foreign service officers and labor unions have rapidly criticized the cuts. Senate Democrats have argued that the administration cannot spend a low diplomatic appearance with several crises worldwide.
“There are active conflicts and humanitarian crises in Ukraine, Sudan, Gaza, Haiti and Myanmar to give some names. Now it’s time to strengthen our diplomatic hand, it is not weak,” Sen Jean Shaheen (DN.H.) said, all Democrats said in a statement.
He said, “By advancing peaceful resolutions to compete with China diplomatically and financially, we cannot experience diplomats on the table,” he said.
The American Foreign Service Association, an association, which represents tens of thousands of east and current diplomats, stated that on Friday, sorting is an indication that the US is retreating from the global region.
“As the partners look for the US for assurances and testing for weakness for rivals, the administration has chosen to sideline many professionals best equipped to navigate this moment,” the Sangh Said in a statement“Meanwhile, countries like China continue to expand their diplomatic access and influence.”
Michael Rigas, State Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources,Said in an internal messageOn Thursday, for the workers of the state department that “once notifications have taken place, the department will enter the final stages of its restructuring and focus on distributing the result-manual diplomacy.”
“Today, Little Marco proved himself a very younger person during the 2016 primary and served in the Trump administration,” Little Marco proved himself a very younger person, “during the primary 2016 primary,” supported Rubio during the primary of 2016 and supported Rubio in service in Trump administration.
Rubio tries to change the department
Rubio is trying to replace the State Department as part of the effort of the Trump administration to improve the US foreign policy and reduce the size of the federal government.
Sorting notices were sent to 1,107 civil servants and 246 Foreign Services Officers. As part of the restructuring plan, “approximately” 3,000 employees are expected to leave the department. Foreign service officers will be placed on administrative leave for 120 days; Later, they will be cut. According to the notice, the duration of isolation for most civil servants is 60 days.
The action of “Force (RIF) action cut (RIF) is required to better align the size, scope and structure of the department with the priorities of the secretary and the foreign policy of the nation,” read the note, which was reviewed by the hill.
On Friday, the deduction has influenced the coordinator of the state department for the Afghan transfer efforts (Care) office, which was tasked to transfer Afghan colleagues who worked with the US government in Afghanistan. The entire leadership of the office received the RIF notice on Friday, Jessica Bradley Rushing, which is reported to The Hill, former Deputy Director of Communications and Engagement in Care.
“This is not just a policy decision – this is a moral collapse,” Afghanwack President Sean Wandivar said, a advocacy group for Afghan refugees in America
“At a time when Afghans are still trapped in the way of loss, including in American custody abroad, those who have made our government’s most effective coordination effort possible, are shown to be the door.”
The Bureau of Population, refugees and all the leaders within migrations of the State Department have also received RIF notices, according to the rife.
Earlier this month, Rubio Formally given to the endThe US agency (USAID) for the US government’s foreign aid branch. The administration has argued that the USAID is part of the White House to exclude the “waste, fraud and abuse” to shut down the USAID.
Rubio wrote on 1 July, “The objectives of development are rarely fulfilled, instability has often deteriorated, and the anti -American feeling has only increased. This era of the government accepted by the government has officially ended.”
Supreme Court for now Rifs Greenlights
The state department comes a few days later Supreme Court allowedTrump administration to continue pruning in federal agencies. The Supreme Court of the country found Trump’s working order of February, directed to bore the federal agencies to refer to the refer, it was likely to be valid.
While the Supreme Court removed the prohibition of the District Judge, it allowed the plaintiff to challenge the plans of the individual agencies in the future.
The court verdict said, “We express any views on any agency RIF and the validity of the restructuring plan, which is ready or approved for executive orders and memorandum.”
Liberal Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson depicted the ruling, the ruling, as “hubliest and senseless”.
Justice Sonia Sotomore said in a one-guard single opinion that he agrees with Jackson that Trump “cannot reorganize federal agencies in an inconsistent manner with the Congress mandate.”
“At this stage, there are no plans before this court, and thus we have no opportunity to consider whether they can suit the obstacles of the law and be done,” Sotomore warned.
