Rubio Unveils State Department Overhaul Plan

Secretary of State Marco Rubio unveiled a sweeping reorganization of the U.S. State Department on Tuesday, slashing its workforce by 15% and consolidating more than 100 offices worldwide as part of the Trump administration’s "America First" agenda.

According to an internal memo obtained by Reuters and The Associated Press, the plan—which Congress has been briefed on—will eliminate 132 of the department’s 734 bureaus and offices. An additional 137 offices will be relocated within the department to "increase efficiency," the AP reported, citing a fact sheet.

"In its current form, the Department is bloated, bureaucratic, and unable to perform its essential diplomatic mission in this new era of great power competition," Rubio said in a statement posted on X. "That is why today I am announcing a comprehensive reorganization plan that will bring the Department into the 21st century."

Key Changes and Expected Cuts

The exact number of layoffs remains unclear, but among the offices slated for elimination is the Office of Global Women’s Issues. The department’s diversity and inclusion initiatives—which have faced cuts across the federal government since President Donald Trump took office—are also expected to be scaled back.

Following the recent dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), a "reimagined" office will focus on foreign and humanitarian affairs, coordinating remaining foreign aid programs. While previous reports suggested the Undersecretary of Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights would lose key offices, Rubio’s fact sheet indicated much of that work would continue in other divisions.

Both Rubio and senior officials have criticized the department’s "bloated" structure, arguing it hindered swift decision-making. The reorganization aims to empower regional bureaus, eliminate redundant programs, and refocus efforts on core U.S. national interests, they said.

Political and Operational Backlash

The plan has drawn scrutiny from lawmakers and State Department employees. Some staffers noted that key details—such as the total number of job cuts—remain undisclosed. "There is no information on [personnel] cuts, which is what most people are waiting for," one employee told reporters.

Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, vowed to closely examine the proposal. "Any changes to the State Department and USAID must be carefully weighed with the real costs to American security and leadership," she said. "When America retreats—as it has under President Trump—China and Russia fill the void."

The reorganization follows a February executive order in which Trump directed Rubio to overhaul the U.S. Foreign Service to ensure stricter alignment with his administration’s agenda. While initial drafts reportedly proposed deeper cuts—including shuttering embassies across Africa—the final plan appears less drastic.

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce denied that billionaire Elon Musk’s informal "Department of Government Efficiency" played a direct role in the restructuring, though she acknowledged its influence. "Doge was not in charge of this, but this is the result of what we’ve learned," she said, referencing Musk’s meme-inspired management style.

The proposal marks one of the most significant shake-ups in U.S. diplomacy in decades, signaling a sharper focus on strategic competition while scaling back initiatives tied to democracy promotion and global governance.