Foreign Service budget cuts should be reversed

Mark L. Asquino and Patricia H. Kushlis

The Santa Fe New Mexican

July 26, 2025

On July 11, the U.S. Department of State fired 1,107 civil servants and 246 Foreign Service officers with assignments in the United States. Among the latter were exceptional colleagues of ours with whom we worked at home and abroad.

Those who lost their jobs were seemingly, haphazardly let go regardless of their years of service, language and professional skills, or superlative performance evaluations.

With no strategic plan or vision, Secretary Marco Rubio’s inexperienced, ideologically driven staff simply abolished positions and informed the occupants via email they no longer had a job. During this time, Rubio himself was in East Asia.

The firings have already demoralized the more than 15,000 U.S.-based employees who remain. We both can attest that State’s domestic employees are a mainstay of America’s diplomatic corps around the world. It’s hard to exaggerate the damage that will be caused by their reduced support. And more cuts could come.

One immediate result will be a negative impact on U.S. national security. Senior analysts with decades of experience on Russia and Ukraine in State’s Bureau of Intelligence no longer will be there to help the U.S. end the war between these countries. We will also feel the loss of those specialists who’ve spent years at U.S. government expense learning Chinese and gaining the expertise needed to address China’s rising worldwide influence and competition. But closer to home, New Mexico will also be harmed by these cuts.