For Immediate Release
September 25, 2025
Contact: Communications Director Nikki Gamer | Cell #: (978) 884-0003 | gamer@afsa.org

Washington, D.C. – The American Foreign Service Association finds it unacceptable that once again, career public servants are being placed in the crosshairs of a political fight. The threat of mass dismissals of federal employees in the event of a government shutdown marks a troubling trend: a readiness to use the workforce as an instrument of political leverage.

Threatening mass layoffs sends a damaging message, one that undermines trust, weakens morale, and disrespects the professionalism of those who ensure continuity of government in times of crisis.

At a minimum, the federal workforce, and the American people it serves deserve transparency and clear guidance. We call on the Office of Personnel Management to immediately issue detailed information to agencies and employees about the potential layoffs, so Foreign Service and Civil Service personnel alike can prepare for what may come. Public servants should not be left in the dark—not now, not ever.

When steady stewardship is essential to our foreign policy goals, targeting the livelihoods of career professionals for political brinkmanship is shortsighted, damaging, and indefensible.

The American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) is the professional association and labor union of the men and women of the United States Foreign Service.