Kathrine Frich
At the heart of the layoffs are the Bureau of Research and Intelligence (BRI).
At the heart of the layoffs are the Bureau of Research and Intelligence (BRI).
A Restructuring Earthquake Hits Foggy Bottom
More than 1,300 staffers have been let go from the US State Department in a sweeping overhaul branded a “structural optimization.”
The shake-up, announced on July 11, affects a wide range of offices but spares US embassies abroad.
At the heart of the layoffs are the Bureau of Research and Intelligence (BRI), long respected for its independent, apolitical analysis.
Russia-Ukraine Experts Among the Cut
Some of the most troubling losses are analysts who specialize in Russia and Ukraine, dismissed at a time when their insight is more critical than ever.
These experts were part of the department’s broader effort to track, decode, and anticipate developments in the war-torn region of Eastern Europe.
A Controversial Move Under Secretary Marco Rubio
The restructuring was greenlit by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
His plan consolidates hundreds of offices, merging previously distinct regional teams into broader umbrellas.
Critics say it’s a short-sighted move; supporters argue it will boost efficiency and streamline focus.
‘A Critical Capacity is Being Weakened’
Former INR chief Ellen McCarthy didn’t hold back.
Calling the decision “deeply risky,” she warned that the layoffs undercut America’s strategic edge: “We should be investing in INR, not reducing it.”
The office has historically provided key analysis to shape US diplomacy.
A Track Record of Independence
INR (formerly INR) has long been known for defying groupthink.
In 2002, it was the lone government voice to reject the claim that Iraq had restarted its nuclear weapons program, a view that history ultimately vindicated.
Congress Raises the Alarm
During a July 15 hearing, Democratic lawmakers blasted the layoffs.
“Why was the entire team investigating Russian war crimes in Ukraine fired?” asked Rep. William Keating.
The official response was that the unit was “consolidated,” not eliminated.
State Department Defends the Cuts
Deputy Secretary of State Michael Rigas insisted the move was about eliminating “single-issue offices” that had grown “uncontrolled.”
The goal, he said, is to restore broader strategic clarity and reduce bureaucratic sprawl.
A Blow to Intelligence at the Worst Time
Analysts warn the timing couldn’t be worse.
With the war in Ukraine raging and Russian geopolitical aggression expanding, gutting the very team trained to read these movements could leave the US flying blind.
