The US State Department has started laying off more than 1,300 employees as part of a reorganisation initiated by President Trump.
According to CNN, the action began on Friday 18 July and affects 1,107 civil servants and 246 forest service officers in Washington DC. It is part of a bigger restructuring effort that will lead to the closure or downsizing of hundreds of offices and almost 3,000 employees leaving the department.
The report said the wider plans are aimed at ‘reducing immigration to the US and promoting the administration’s world view, with less emphasis on protecting and promoting human rights across the globe.’