‘We haven't slashed anything yet’: Rubio supports State Department modifications
Earlier this week, the State Department unveiled a reorganization plan that includes a proposal to reduce its U.S. workforce by 15 percent.
TroibNews 
Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended a reorganization plan for the State Department during an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday, asserting that it aims to enhance efficiency within the foreign affairs operation.
According to an organizational chart released last week, the plan involves the elimination of various human rights-focused bureaus. The State Department is also anticipating a 15 percent reduction in its staff based in the United States. When asked about these changes, Rubio responded, “We haven't slashed anything yet.”
Rubio emphasized that the reorganization is not solely about cost-cutting but is fundamentally about ensuring that every bureau and office within the State Department operates with a clear purpose. “This isn't just about saving money — this is primarily about making sure every bureau and every office in the State Department has a purpose and they're fulfilling them, and what this is about is empowering the regional bureaus and embassies,” he explained.
Among the offices slated for closure are the Office of Global Women’s Issues and the Diversity and Inclusion Office. Additionally, offices under the undersecretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights will be eliminated, with plans to merge these functions into other areas of the department. Some of these cuts appear to align with the Trump administration's initiatives to reduce federal funding for diversity programs.
Rubio reassured Welker that the staff reductions would be carried out with oversight from the department. “The 15% you're referring to is, after we've reorganized, we're going to ask the bureau heads and the assistant secretaries, many of whom are career foreign service officers, to look at their bureaus and their operations and … suggest to us 15% reductions,” he noted.
During the interview, Rubio also addressed the Trump administration's increasing frustration with the stalled negotiations to resolve the Russia-Ukraine war, stating that they are “close, but not close enough” to reaching a deal.
"It may not work out, peace deals are hard,” he remarked. “But we are trying and I think the president deserves credit for spending this much time and this much energy and these many resources to try to bring this outcome of peace.”
This discussion followed a meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Rome on Saturday, which the White House characterized as “very productive.”
James del Carmen for TROIB News
According to an organizational chart released last week, the plan involves the elimination of various human rights-focused bureaus. The State Department is also anticipating a 15 percent reduction in its staff based in the United States. When asked about these changes, Rubio responded, “We haven't slashed anything yet.”
Rubio emphasized that the reorganization is not solely about cost-cutting but is fundamentally about ensuring that every bureau and office within the State Department operates with a clear purpose. “This isn't just about saving money — this is primarily about making sure every bureau and every office in the State Department has a purpose and they're fulfilling them, and what this is about is empowering the regional bureaus and embassies,” he explained.
Among the offices slated for closure are the Office of Global Women’s Issues and the Diversity and Inclusion Office. Additionally, offices under the undersecretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights will be eliminated, with plans to merge these functions into other areas of the department. Some of these cuts appear to align with the Trump administration's initiatives to reduce federal funding for diversity programs.
Rubio reassured Welker that the staff reductions would be carried out with oversight from the department. “The 15% you're referring to is, after we've reorganized, we're going to ask the bureau heads and the assistant secretaries, many of whom are career foreign service officers, to look at their bureaus and their operations and … suggest to us 15% reductions,” he noted.
During the interview, Rubio also addressed the Trump administration's increasing frustration with the stalled negotiations to resolve the Russia-Ukraine war, stating that they are “close, but not close enough” to reaching a deal.
"It may not work out, peace deals are hard,” he remarked. “But we are trying and I think the president deserves credit for spending this much time and this much energy and these many resources to try to bring this outcome of peace.”
This discussion followed a meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Rome on Saturday, which the White House characterized as “very productive.”
James del Carmen for TROIB News
