American Embassies Worldwide Told To Prepare For Staff Cuts

President Donald Trump's administration has asked US embassies worldwide to prepare for staff cuts, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Feb 13, as part of his effort to overhaul the US diplomatic corps.

- REUTERS

WASHINGTON –

The sources said some embassies had been asked to look into reducing both US employees and locally employed staff by 10 percent each, with a list of the workforce to be sent to the State Department by Feb 14. The department would then determine further actions.

US embassies around the world employ both diplomats and local staff. Most embassy staff come from the host country, according to the National Museum of American Diplomacy.

Separately, a US official said that around 60 contractors at the State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour had been let go in recent weeks and that there was a possibility of further cuts in other bureaus.

ABC News first reported that US embassies had been told to start planning for staff reductions.