State Department Cuts Impair Iran Conflict Response

The U.S. State Department has faced significant challenges in responding to the escalating conflict with Iran due to substantial staff reductions in its Middle East expertise division, according to current and former officials, as the war entered its third month on Tuesday.

The conflict, which began on February 28, involves drone and missile strikes across an 18-country region, pitting the United States and Israel against Iran and its allies. Iranian forces have retaliated with attacks on U.S. partners including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, turning parts of the area into active battlegrounds. The State Department's Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, responsible for coordinating U.S. policy in the region, has lost more than 80 staffers since President Donald Trump took office, including veteran diplomats fluent in Arabic and Farsi. Overall, over 3,800 department employees have departed through reductions in force, voluntary resignations, and retirements, with senior ranks hit hardest, according to estimates from the American Foreign Service Association.

These cuts have left key leadership positions vacant or filled temporarily. The assistant secretary...