State Department planning to shrink U.S. staff by 3,400 in massive reorganization

[ad_1] The State Division is planning a sweeping reorganization of its bureaus and U.S. workers, with round 3,400 jobs eradicated and nearly half of its home workplaces closed or consolidated within the coming months, the division informed lawmakers Thursday, in accordance with paperwork obtained by CBS Information.

The plans had been previewed by senior State Division officers final month and are a part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to slash the scale of the federal authorities. Secretary of State Marco Rubio referred to as the division — which employs tens of hundreds of home workers along with overseas service staff at embassies and consulates — "bloated" and "bureaucratic."

The division goals to scale back its home workforce by as much as 3,448 personnel, it stated in a greater than 130-page notification submitted to Congress — affecting round 18% of its current workers. That features 1,873 staff who could possibly be minimize by way of layoffs, or reductions-in-force, and one other 1,575 who've indicated they would go away voluntarily.

The cuts don't have an effect on U.S.-based workers answerable for issuing passports and visas, or diplomatic safety brokers, the plan to Congress, marked "delicate however unclassified," stated.

State Division spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated in a briefing with reporters on Thursday that the modifications had been the results of "considerate and deliberative" work by senior division management that took into consideration suggestions from long-serving workers.

"The reorganization plan will lead to a extra agile Division, higher outfitted to advertise America's pursuits and preserve Individuals protected the world over," Rubio stated in a press release.

The reorganization ought to be "largely concluded by July 1," with workers notified earlier than then if their place is eradicated, the State Division informed its workforce in a frequently-asked-questions doc additionally obtained by CBS Information. Employees had been informed to ensure their private contact info was updated.

In the meantime, round 45% of workplaces throughout the State Division could possibly be merged or eradicated altogether, in accordance with an govt abstract despatched internally to staffers Thursday and obtained by CBS Information.

Some departments centered on democracy and human rights shall be scrapped or consolidated, with the report back to Congress describing a few of these workplaces as "liable to ideological seize and radicalism." A brand new senior job shall be added centered on "Democracy & Western Values," with workplaces centered on "civil liberties" and "free market ideas."

Workplaces that deal with migration points shall be "considerably reorganized" to deal with "supporting the Administration's efforts to return unlawful aliens to their nation of origin or authorized standing," the congressional notification says.

Among the workplaces throughout the State Division's regional bureaus may also be merged. For instance, Russia Affairs and the Caucasus will merge into one workplace throughout the Europe bureau, Haiti and Caribbean Affairs will develop into one throughout the Western Hemisphere bureau, and Iran and Iraq Affairs will merge throughout the Close to East Asia bureau.

The plan additionally eliminates a program that was tasked with serving to relocate Afghans who assisted U.S. navy personnel throughout the warfare in Afghanistan, a transfer that drew sharp criticism from veterans' teams.

"This isn't administrative streamlining," stated Shawn VanDiver, the founding father of nonprofit AfghanEvac, in a press release. "This can be a betrayal."

In an inside frequently-asked-questions doc obtained by CBS Information, the State Division informed workers most of the workplaces which might be slated to be shut down will nonetheless see their core duties moved elsewhere.

"Simply because your workplace doesn't seem on the brand new organizational chart doesn't essentially imply you'll be receiving a [reduction-in-force] notification," the FAQ additionally learn.

The administration has sought to shutter many of the U.S. Company for Worldwide Improvement, cancelling a lot of its applications and folding most of its remaining overseas help duties into the State Division. That plan has drawn pushback from Democrats who argue the strikes weren't licensed by Congress.

"Taken collectively, these strikes considerably undercut America's function on this planet and open the door for adversaries to threaten our security and prosperity," stated Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, the highest Democrats on the Senate Overseas Relations Committee and Home Overseas Affairs Committee, respectively. "We welcome reforms the place wanted, however they have to be achieved with a scalpel, not a series noticed."

Camilla Schick

Camilla Schick is a British journalist in D.C. and CBS Information' overseas affairs producer, protecting U.S. overseas relations, the State Division and nationwide safety.