NEWSLINK: “Putin says the U.S. Mission in Russia needs to cut 755 employees. What do all these people do?” – Washington Post/ Andrew Roth

“When Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Sunday that the U.S. Embassy and consulates in Russia would have to cut 755 diplomatic and technical staff, many people had the same first thought: We have 755 diplomats in Russia for Putin to expel? Doesn’t that seem like a lot? The answer is yes, that does seem like a lot. Because no, we don’t have 755 diplomats in Russia. … Altogether, the U.S. government employs more than an estimated 1,200 people in Russia. The majority are hired by the Department of State, charged with running the U.S. Embassy and consulates, visa processing and handling other diplomatic tasks. But it also includes employees of dozens of governmental agencies and departments, like the Department of Defense, Department of Agriculture, NASA and even the Library of Congress. Collectively, we will call this U.S. Mission Russia or just Mission Russia. …”