AFSA Position on Reductions in Force 

Dear AFSA member,  

With talk of impending Reductions in Force (RIFs) at the Department of State mounting, AFSA’s position is clear: we are firmly and unequivocally opposed to the proposed plans. These cuts come at a time when our workforce is already stretched thin and under-resourced for the effective conduct of American diplomacy. Further reductions will only increase the harm to America's foreign policy interests. RIFs should be a measure of last resort, undertaken only after all other options have been exhausted.  

While we recognize that the Secretary of State has the authority to implement RIFs, we are unyielding in our position that the process must adhere to long-established factors set forth in the Foreign Service Act (22 USC 4010a) and 3 FAM 2580, as published since May 14, 2020. The FAM states that the competitive area for a RIF shall be worldwide by cone/specialty and grade. All members, regardless of location, shall be reviewed and placed on a retention register. An employee’s standing on the retention register is based on full consideration of veterans’ preference, language proficiency, and the results of the most recent five years of selection boards, among other factors. Fairness, transparency, and institutional integrity demand nothing less. 

We have called on the department to adhere to established RIF guidelines in carrying out any reductions and have formally requested negotiations on any proposed changes to the language. We also urge the Secretary to seriously consider whether RIFs are, in fact, necessary given the large number of recent departures from the department. 

Efforts to rewrite the agreed-upon FAM language to link Foreign Service RIFs to an employee’s current domestic assignment clearly violate core principles of our merit-based system. This would effectively penalize members simply for being assigned to certain offices. If the department chooses to proceed with RIFs along these lines and change the factors that determine an employee’s position on a retention register, it will harm workforce morale, weaken our institutional effectiveness, and damage our country’s foreign policy interests.   

Should RIFs in certain offices be necessary and the department departs from the agreed-upon RIF regulations, all affected employees at the very least must be given reasonable time and the opportunity to find and take assignments in other offices/bureaus. Those employees who already have onward assignments this summer should be allowed to encumber new postings without delay. Those who are able to take new assignments must be expeditiously curtailed out of jobs that no longer exist and paneled into new positions.

AFSA will take all appropriate steps to safeguard the interests of our members and will challenge any attempt to unilaterally change the agreed-upon rules for any RIF actions.  

To our members facing a possible RIF situation: We know how stressful this uncertainty surrounding the RIFs is for you and your family. Please know that we are doing everything in our power to defend you and protect your employment. If your office receives instructions contrary to established procedures or if you experience issues with your onward assignment, please write to us at member@afsa.org.  

In the meantime, it is always a good idea to print out all personnel documents and save them to your personal device. For a complete list of documents to gather, go to afsa.org/virtual-go-bag. 

Thank you for your membership and your service.