Secretary of State Marco Rubio has unveiled a sweeping overhaul of the U.S. State Department, marking one of the most dramatic bureaucratic restructurings in decades. The changes will slash 132 domestic offices, eliminate around 700 Washington, D.C.–based positions, and shut down departments focused on war crimes and global conflict, according to internal documents and a senior State Department official who spoke to CNN.
The restructuring, long in development since the early Trump administration, is aimed at cutting what Rubio and department leadership describe as “bloated” and inefficient bureaucracy that hinders foreign policy execution.
“Today is the day. Under @POTUS’ leadership and at my direction, we are reversing decades of bloat and bureaucracy at the State Department,” Rubio declared in a post on X. “These sweeping changes will empower our talented diplomats to Put America and Americans first.”
While the plan does not include immediate layoffs, the elimination of 700 positions signals that job losses are highly likely. The proposal will also reduce the total number of domestic offices from 734 to 602, with a further review of overseas embassies and consulates expected at a later stage.
A memo sent Tuesday by Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau instructed undersecretaries to begin developing implementation strategies by July 1.
The initial phase of the reorganization focuses on domestic operations, not foreign outposts, but the announcement has already generated concern among State Department staff. The proposal leaves out many granular details, adding to the anxiety within the department.
According to officials, the realignment is intended to streamline operations so the department’s structure better aligns with the administration’s policy goals.
More changes are expected in the coming months, particularly impacting diplomatic missions abroad, as Rubio and the administration continue their effort to reshape America’s foreign policy infrastructure from the ground up.