One employee coordinated intelligence activities. Another worked to leverage U.S. energy interests abroad. And a third was an expert on strategic competition with China .
They are just some of the more than 1,300 State Department employees fired last week, eliminating hundreds of years of institutional knowledge and experience.
The move has stunned America's diplomatic workforce, not only as their careers abruptly end but as they wonder who - if anyone - will fill in on what they call critical work to keep the U.S. safe and competitive on the world stage.
Many of the positions and offices "abolished" Friday under Secretary of State Marco Rubio's dramatic reorganization plan overlap with priorities President Donald Trump has laid out for his second term, such as combating visa fraud and countering China. Other cuts could have wide impact on everyday life, including processing Americans' passport applications.
Trump administration officials have defended the mass dismissals, saying they are overdue and necessary to make the department leaner and more efficient.