The State Department informed U.S.-based employees that it would soon be laying off nearly 2,000 workers. (Nathan Posner/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
"First and foremost, we want to thank them for their dedication and service to the United States," Rigas said in the email.
"Every effort has been made to support our colleagues who are departing, including those who opted into the Deferred Resignation Programs … On behalf of Department leadership, we extend our gratitude for your hard work and commitment to executing this reorganization and for your ongoing dedication to advancing U.S. national interests across the world," he added.
The department did not specify on Thursday how many people would be fired, but in its plans to Congress sent in May, it had proposed laying off about 1,800 employees of the 18,000 estimated domestic workforce. Another 1,575 were estimated to have taken deferred resignations.
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The expectation is for the terminations to start as soon as Friday. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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"There has been a delay – not to our interests, but because of the courts," Bruce noted. "It's been difficult when you know you need to get something done for the benefit of everyone."
"When something is too large to operate, too bureaucratic, to actually function, and to deliver projects, or action, it has to change," she said.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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