The Department of State has announced a significant policy shift, informing staff on Thursday that it will not extend contracts for civilian personal services contractors starting this Saturday. This decision aligns with former President Donald Trump's executive order, which imposed a freeze on the hiring of federal employees. As a result, all agencies and departments are now barred from filling vacant positions. Exemptions to this directive must be sought through the under-secretary for management, a role currently held by Ambassador Tibor Nagy in an acting capacity.
Contracts, which can be renewed annually for up to four additional option years, cannot exceed a one-year period according to state department regulations. The new directive affects numerous contractors, including roughly half of those employed by the bureau of diplomatic security. This group includes roles comparable to those of the three civilian contractors—Sean Smith, Tyrone Woods, and Glen Doherty—who were tragically killed in the 2012 Benghazi raid in Libya. The fourth individual killed in that incident was not a contractor.
Catherine Rodriguez, a senior official and career staffer at the state department’s bureau of global talent management, communicated the directive via email. In her message, Rodriguez acknowledged the tight timeline, stating:
"We recognize that 8 February is fast approaching and that bureaus may have already signed new contracts or option year extensions that might begin next week."
Rodriguez further emphasized the immediate impact of the directive:
"All of these new contracts are to be terminated immediately or, in the case of unexercised options, must not be exercised."
As part of the sweeping changes, any job postings made after Donald Trump's inauguration are to be rescinded. Contracts currently in the process of being signed are also to be halted. A request for comment from the state department remains unanswered at this time.