Photos of US State Department workers getting hugs and applause as they’re fired
State Department employees carry boxes on a cart out of the Harry S. Truman Building, the headquarters of the State Department, in Washington, Friday, July 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Carrying boxes past signs of thanks for their service, fired State Department workers were hugged and applauded as they left their headquarters for the last time. More than 1,300 State Department employees fired in July, some focusing on intelligence activities, U.S. energy interests abroad, strategic competition with China and visa fraud. The lay offs are in line with a dramatic reorganization plan from the Trump administration.
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
State Department employees applaud as their colleagues walk through the lobby of the State Department headquarters in the Harry S Truman Building, Friday, July 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
State Department employees applaud as their colleagues walk through the lobby of the State Department headquarters in the Harry S Truman Building, Friday, July 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Fired State Department employees carry boxes out of the Harry S. Truman Building, the headquarters of the State Department, in Washington, Friday, July 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Fired State Department employees carry boxes out of the Harry S. Truman Building, the headquarters of the State Department, in Washington, Friday, July 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
State Department employees applaud as their colleagues walk through the lobby of the State Department headquarters in the Harry S Truman Building, Friday, July 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein).
State Department employees applaud as their colleagues walk through the lobby of the State Department headquarters in the Harry S Truman Building, Friday, July 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein).
Former Foreign Service employee Anne Bodine of Arlington, Va., demonstrates against potential layoffs at the State Department, Friday, July 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein).
Former Foreign Service employee Anne Bodine of Arlington, Va., demonstrates against potential layoffs at the State Department, Friday, July 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein).
State Department employees applaud as their colleagues walk through the lobby of the State Department headquarters in the Harry S Truman Building, Friday, July 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein).
State Department employees applaud as their colleagues walk through the lobby of the State Department headquarters in the Harry S Truman Building, Friday, July 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein).
A man hugs former Foreign Service employee Bob Gilchrist, of Washington, left, as he holds a sign reading “Thank You America’s Diplomats” outside the State Department headquarters, Friday, July 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein).
A man hugs former Foreign Service employee Bob Gilchrist, of Washington, left, as he holds a sign reading “Thank You America’s Diplomats” outside the State Department headquarters, Friday, July 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein).
State Department employees applaud as their colleagues walk through the lobby of the State Department headquarters in the Harry S. Truman Building, Friday, July 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein).
State Department employees applaud as their colleagues walk through the lobby of the State Department headquarters in the Harry S. Truman Building, Friday, July 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein).
A man pulls a cart with boxes as he walks out of the State Department headquarters, Friday, July 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein).
A man pulls a cart with boxes as he walks out of the State Department headquarters, Friday, July 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein).
State Department employees applaud as their colleagues walk outside of the State Department headquarters in the Harry S Truman Building, Friday, July 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
State Department employees applaud as their colleagues walk outside of the State Department headquarters in the Harry S Truman Building, Friday, July 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)