The United States State Department has implemented significant layoffs, affecting over 1,300 employees as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to reduce the federal workforce.

A total of 1,107 civil service employees and 246 foreign service officers based in the US received layoff notices on Friday.

This move comes after more than 1,500 other State Department employees took voluntary departures earlier this year as part of a broader reorganization effort aimed at streamlining operations and cutting costs.

The layoffs have sparked criticism from Democrats and some employees, who argue that the cuts will undermine the department’s effectiveness and national security.

The layoffs have hit critical programs hard, with nearly all civil service officers in the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration’s office of admissions losing their jobs.

This program is crucial for resettling refugees in the US. Employees who worked for the State Department’s Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts (CARE) office were also among those affected.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the decision, stating that eliminating positions is not about targeting individuals but rather restructuring the department to improve efficiency.

“It’s not a consequence of trying to get rid of people… But if you close the bureau, you don’t need those positions,” Rubio explained while in Malaysia.

However, Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee strongly disagreed, issuing a statement that the “decision to fire hundreds of members of the Civil Service and Foreign Service at the Department of State undermines our national security”.

They argued that blanket cuts weaken the government’s ability to deliver for the American people in a cost-effective manner.

Videos shared on social media showed emotional scenes of employees leaving the building with their belongings, with some colleagues applauding and hugging one another.

Outside the building, protesters gathered with signs expressing appreciation for America’s diplomats and demanding better working conditions.

The layoffs are part of a larger effort by the Trump administration to cut government spending, a campaign promise that has led to significant restructuring within the federal workforce.

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) was also affected, with over 80% of its programs cancelled and the remainder absorbed by the State Department earlier this month.

 The United States has intensified its efforts to forge deportation deals with African countries, with South Sudan being the only country so far to accept third-country nationals deported from the US. Rwanda has also confirmed ongoing talks with the Trump administration about a potential agreement to host deported migrants.

Despite lacking clarity on the specifics of the deal, South Sudan accepted eight individuals with criminal convictions, only one of whom was a South Sudanese national.

Experts speculate that South Sudan’s decision might be aimed at currying favor with the Trump administration to avoid visa bans, sanctions, or other punitive measures.

Conversely, Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Yussuf Tuggar has categorically stated that the country will not accept third-country deportees, citing its own pressing problems.

Tuggar emphasized that Nigeria is not under any illusion about the potential benefits of such a deal.

Rwanda’s foreign minister revealed that talks are underway with the US about hosting deported migrants.

However, human rights groups have long criticized Rwanda’s human rights record, particularly regarding the deaths of perceived government critics in custody.

Analysts suggest that some African countries might be motivated to participate in US deportation programs to maintain favorable relations with the US, particularly in light of recent tariff impositions and aid cuts.

Beverly Ochieng, an analyst at Control Risks, notes that countries may prioritize avoiding losses in access to the US economy and bilateral relations.

Lawyers and advocates have expressed concerns about the uncertainty surrounding the legal status and safety of migrants deported to third countries.

Michelle Mittelstadt, a spokesperson for the Migration Policy Institute, highlights the confusion over who controls these individuals once deported.

The Trump administration’s push for deportation deals with African countries marks a significant shift in US policy towards the continent.

During a recent summit with West African leaders, Trump discussed migration and the need for countries to accept their nationals who do not have the right to stay in the US, as well as the possibility of accepting deported nationals of third countries.

Liberian President Joseph Boakai and Guinea Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embaló confirmed discussions on third-country nationals during the summit but stated that Trump did not directly ask them to accept deportees.

Other West African governments have remained silent on the matter.

As the US continues to push for deportation deals globally, African countries are weighing their options, balancing potential benefits against human rights concerns and the welfare of deported migrants.

Nigeria mourns the loss of a statesman as former President Muhammadu Buhari breathed his last in a London clinic on Sunday.

According to a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Buhari died at approximately 4:30 pm after a prolonged illness.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced the passing of his predecessor, describing it as a sad day for the nation.

Tinubu has directed Vice President Kashim Shettima and Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila to travel to the United Kingdom to accompany Buhari’s remains back to Nigeria.

Tinubu has conveyed his deep condolences to Buhari’s family, particularly his widow, Mrs. Aishat Buhari.

In a mark of respect for the departed leader, Tinubu has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff across the country.

Muhammadu Buhari served Nigeria as a democratically elected president twice, in 2015 and 2023.

He also held the position of military head of state from January 1984 to August 1985.