National Security Leaders for America Warns That State Department Layoffs Threaten U.S. National Security
July 7, 2025
Washington, DC, May 24, 2024 — National Security Leaders for America (NSL4A) is alarmed over the State Department’s plan to eliminate roughly 2,000 positions—700 of which are career Foreign Service Officers (FSOs)—and to shutter or consolidate 132 bureaus and offices. Furthermore, NSL4A urges Congress to conduct oversight hearings on this plan and requests that the Administration suspend the reductions-in-force (RIFs) pending a comprehensive review of national security.
Why the Cuts Endanger National Security
Loss of critical expertise. Eliminating 700 seasoned diplomats dismantles years of investment in language skills, crisis response, and regional expertise. These professionals are not easily replaced. Rebuilding this capacity later will be more costly, take longer, and leave dangerous gaps in America’s global engagement—gaps that our allies cannot fill and our adversaries will be quick to exploit.
Surrendering global leadership: The planned closure of offices with expertise in promoting democracy in other countries serves the interests of China, Russia, and other rivals, not America’s interests. It comes at a moment when China’s global diplomatic presence has eclipsed America’s and is continuing to expand.
Unclear strategy, questionable legality: The Department has not articulated a global strategy or vision that would be served by eliminating key personnel and functions. Furthermore, the RIFs are based on the current position of the individuals, rather than on the required criteria of demonstrated performance, suitability, and seniority.
NSL4A encourages Congress to engage in careful oversight of the proposed workforce reductions by holding hearings with State Department leadership and combatant commands to evaluate potential impacts on operational effectiveness. We recommend pausing implementation of the reduction-in-force authority to allow time for a bipartisan, independent assessment of how these changes may affect crisis response, sanctions enforcement, and America’s role in strategic regions. Additionally, we support the passage of notice-and-review legislation, such as the Shaheen-Murphy bill, to ensure that future restructuring efforts are subject to appropriate Congressional review and informed by a classified national security assessment.
Diplomacy is the frontline of national defense, and Congress’s constitutional role in foreign affairs begins with ensuring that we have the professional force to execute policy. We urge lawmakers—Democrats and Republicans alike—to intervene before these cuts do lasting harm. Congress owes no less than that to the dedicated Civil Service and Foreign Service officers who have devoted their lives to America’s security.
National Security Leaders for America members are available for interviews on this issue.
