State Department facing budget and staff shortfalls

“As Secretary Rice and other senior officials have testified repeatedly, the [State] Department’s staffing needs exceed our current resources” stated Harry Thomas, director general of the Foreign Service and director of human resources at the State Department. He testified before the Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia Subcommittee on human capital issues at the State Department.

According to Sen George Voinovich (R-Ohio), the State Department faces a shortfall of 2,400 personnel focused on core diplomatic efforts. Because of this, the department lacks sufficient personnel to accomplish its priority missions. In addition, he stated that 1 of every 5 employees holds a job that is designated for a more experienced person.

Thomas also stated that positions in the State Department increasingly require employees to travel alone to remote locations that are often dangerous. As such, these employees require advanced training and communication equipment. However, current resources available to the State Department do not allow the organization to adequately prepare members of Department. Thomas concluded his statement by encouraging Congress to consider the funding for the State Department when formulating and passing the budget for the next fiscal year.