Trump’s week in review: Weed farm raids, restricting public benefits for illegal immigrants
5. Initiates State Department layoffs
The Trump administration moved to lay off around 1,300 State Department employees on Friday, according to multiple outlets.
Those being laid off include 1,107 civil servants and 246 foreign service officers with domestic assignments, according to The Associated Press, which cited an unnamed source in the department.
The impacted foreign service officers will be placed on administrative leave for 120 days, and then will officially lose their jobs. For most affected civil servants, the separation period will be 60 days, reports AP.
Critics, including the American Academy of Diplomacy, denounced the layoffs in a statement released last week, before the cuts took effect.
"At a time when the United States faces unprecedented challenges from strategic competitors and adversaries, ongoing conflicts in Central Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, and emerging security threats, the decision to gut the Department of State's institutional knowledge and operational capacity is an act of vandalism," stated AAD.
"It is distressing that current Department leadership seems unwilling to acknowledge or recognize the contributions made by its own officers and employees to the prosperity and well-being of the United States. The diplomats and national security professionals facing dismissal are hard-working and dedicated patriots who have committed their lives to the advancement of American interests and values. This is a commitment that should be celebrated."
