State Department loses nearly 2,000 diplomats through retirements and layoffs since 2025

The State Department has lost approximately 2,000 Foreign Service officers through retirements and layoffs over the past year, according to the American Foreign Service Association. The departures follow the withdrawal of dozens of ambassadorial nominations for career officers early in the Trump administration and the recall of nearly 30 sitting career ambassadors by December 2025.

Kelly Adams-Smith, who served 28 years alongside her husband, had her nomination as ambassador to Moldova withdrawn in February 2025. She said the officers who left had expected to fill mentoring and leadership roles.

Vacancies and leadership gaps More than half of U.S. ambassadorships are currently vacant, including posts in Ukraine, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Pakistan, and Qatar. The previous administration had roughly half as many open positions. Several missions in the Persian Gulf operate without Senate-confirmed ambassadors while the United States manages relations with Iran and regional allies.

Elizabeth Horst, who served in Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and European posts, said the loss of experienced personnel reduces the infrastructure available to protect Americans overseas and support U.S. business interests.

Personnel policies and responses Returning ambassadors have 90 days to secure new assignments or retire under the Foreign Service Act of 1980. Current and former officials described expanded political vetting that includes review of social media activity and political donations of applicants and family members.

State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said the department relies on the professionalism of both Foreign Service and Civil Service employees. He added that career personnel implement the foreign policy of the elected government. The American Foreign Service Association noted that the 2,000 figure does not include more than 2,000 additional officers laid off from the U.S. Agency for International Development after that agency was shuttered.