An Attack on American Diplomacy Trump’s State Department Layoffs Are a Gift to America’s Adversaries Alexander Vindman Jul 12 The State Department has initiated its first major layoff under the second Trump administration. A total of 1,107 civil servants and 246 Foreign Service Officers received notices that their positions were being "abolished" and that they would lose access to all department systems and services by the end of the day Friday, July 11. This move follows a recent Supreme Court decision that limits lower courts' ability to block federal personnel cuts—effectively green-lighting mass layoffs justified under headcount reduction efforts like the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). As with the earlier purges across the federal civil service, this is a reckless and destructive decision that will be welcomed in Beijing, Moscow, and Tehran. The diplomats, foreign service officers, and career civil servants at the State Department are the stewards of American diplomacy. They work tirelessly—often behind the scenes—to advance U.S. interests, build coalitions, de-escalate crises, and defend American values abroad. For nearly eight months, these professionals have been forced into triage mode, managing the fallout from President Trump’s erratic, impulsive foreign policy. The dysfunction of Trump’s second term far exceeds that of his first. With little credible leadership in his cabinet and virtually no guardrails left inside the administration, the State Department has served as one of the last lines of defense. These professionals helped soften the blow of shuttering USAID and its global health, humanitarian, and development missions. They worked overtime to explain, rationalize, and contain the consequences of Trump’s chaotic behavior to both allies and adversaries. In many cases, their competence insulated the United States from even worse strategic consequences. The dismissal of these diplomats is not just a bureaucratic reshuffle. It is a direct blow to America’s capacity to operate globally and will erode U.S. power, influence, and credibility at a moment when the international system is already under immense strain. Much like the firings at the Department of Defense and the strong-arming of senior intelligence officials into early retirement, this purge undermines U.S. national security. The consequences are not limited to today’s headlines. By gutting the ranks of career diplomats and foreign service professionals, the Trump administration is inflicting lasting damage on the future of American diplomacy. Foreign service careers already demand extraordinary sacrifice—frequent relocations, high-threat assignments, long postings in war zones or disaster-affected regions. One of the few incentives that sustained these careers was a sense of professional stability and institutional support. Strip that away, and talented Americans will think twice before joining the diplomatic corps. We are putting ourselves in a dangerous position now and setting ourselves up for failure later. The tally of damage just six months into Trump’s second term is already staggering. He has torched relationships with our closest allies and emboldened our adversaries. For all his boasts about deal-making, he has failed to make progress on peace in Ukraine, end the Israel-Hamas war, or ease regional tensions in the Middle East. He has ignited economic disputes that threaten to escalate into full-blown trade wars. Around the world, hunger, disease, and instability are rising and the very teams trained to address those crises are being dismantled. This is not “America First.” This is America alone. And the world is taking note. Our enemies are watching—and they are celebrating. Why It Matters is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.