U.S. makes Cuba staffing cuts permanent after 'health attacks'

WASHINGTON -- Citing mysterious "health attacks" in Havana, the United States said Friday it was making permanent its withdrawal of 60 percent of its diplomats from Cuba as investigations continue.

Last October, the State Department ordered non-essential embassy personnel and the families of all staff to leave Havana, arguing the U.S. could not protect them from unexplained illnesses harming at least 24 Americans. But by law, the department can only order diplomats to leave for six months before either sending them back or making the reductions permanent.

The six months expire Sunday. So the department said it was setting in place a new, permanent staffing plan maintaining a lower level of roughly two-dozen people -- "the minimum personnel necessary to perform core diplomatic and consular functions." The department also said the embassy in Havana would operate as an "unaccompanied post," meaning diplomats posted there will not be allowed to have spouses or children live with them in the country.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson signed off on the permanent plan for reduced staffing out of concern for "the health, safety and well-being of U.S. government personnel and family members," the department said in a statement.

"We still do not have definitive answers on the source or cause of the attacks, and an investigation into the attacks is ongoing," the department said.

The casket of The Rev. Billy Graham is moved Friday during a funeral service at the Billy Graham Library for the Rev. Billy Graham, who died last week at age 99.John Bazemore ~ Associated Press

Cuba has repeatedly denied either involvement in or knowledge of any attacks, and has said its own investigation into the illnesses has turned up no evidence of deliberate action. The United States has not accused Cuba of such action but has said Havana holds responsibility nonetheless, arguing such incidents could not have occurred on the small, communist-run island without the knowledge of Cuban officials.