According to reports in the American press, the U.S. State Department dismissed approximately 250 diplomats via email. While it was claimed that experienced diplomats were among those fired, the Department denied the allegations.
At a time when the Trump administration is struggling to reach an agreement to end the war with Iran, the U.S. State Department last week terminated around 250 foreign service officers through a brief and generic email.
The email reportedly stated: “Your separation under the reduction in force will take effect as of today.”
The layoff process, initiated last July, also affected more than a thousand civil servants. According to the report, entire teams in some offices that could have provided guidance on the war in Iran were also dismissed during the process.
The State Department defended the layoffs by arguing that they were intended to eliminate redundant positions, emphasizing that work on critical issues continues and has been transferred to other offices.
The report highlighted that “many senior diplomats with decades of experience” were among those dismissed. Retired State Department official David Kostelancik said, “For the first time, we have witnessed such a high number of people choosing to leave.”
State Department Spokesperson Tommy Pigott described claims that the institution was being hollowed out as “false.” Pigott also rejected concerns that the loss of hundreds of experienced diplomats would weaken the United States’ ability to implement its priorities, calling such assessments “baseless.”