State Department cut jobs with deep expertise in Middle East as Iran crisis escalates - AP News

The State Department has eliminated positions held by staff with specialized expertise on Middle Eastern affairs at a moment when tensions with Iran are intensifying. The timing of these job cuts raises concerns about the department's capacity to manage diplomatic responses to regional crises that require deep institutional knowledge of Iranian politics, history, and policy dynamics. Losing experienced Middle East analysts could hamper the department's ability to craft nuanced strategies or anticipate Iranian actions during a period of escalating tensions. The cuts reflect broader staffing reshuffles at the State Department under the Trump administration, which has prioritized restructuring the foreign service. The move underscores a potential gap between operational needs and personnel decisions as the administration navigates heightened regional instability.