The State Department is planning a sweeping reorganization of its global operations, eliminating thousands of posts, downgrading the role of human rights and democracy promotion, and bolstering its ability to advocate American and Western values on the world stage, according to a leaked copy of the department’s formal notification to Congress.
The move portends something of a cultural revolution within the United States' oldest federal department. It is expected to impact some 300 bureaus and offices, and shrink the department’s domestic civil and foreign service workforce by 3,448 personnel, including 1,575 staffers who have already expressed an interest in taking a buyout. The remaining 1,873 will be laid off through a “reduction in force” initiative. The department employs more than 14,000 domestic foreign and civil service workers. Globally, it employs 13,000 foreign service officers and around 11,000 civil service officers.
“[The] proliferation of bureaus and offices with unclear, overlapping, or duplicative mandates has hobbled the Department’s ability to rapidly respond to emerging threats and crises,” Paul Guaglianone, the State Department’s senior official in the Bureau of Legislative Affairs, wrote in the notification.
About the author
Colum Lynch
Colum Lynch is an award-winning reporter and Senior Global Reporter for Devex. He covers the intersection of development, diplomacy, and humanitarian relief at the United Nations and beyond. Prior to Devex, Colum reported on foreign policy and national security for Foreign Policy Magazine and the Washington Post. Colum was awarded the 2011 National Magazine Award for digital reporting for his blog Turtle Bay. He has also won an award for groundbreaking reporting on the U.N.’s failure to protect civilians in Darfur.
