Kuala Lumpur, Jul 11 (AP) The State Department is firing over 1,300 career diplomats and civil servants in line with a dramatic reorganisation plan initiated by the Trump administration earlier this year.

A senior State Department official said Friday the department is sending layoff notices to 1,107 civil servants and 246 foreign service officers with domestic assignments in the United States.

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While lauded by President Donald Trump's administration as overdue and necessary to make the department leaner and more efficient, the cuts have been roundly criticised by current and former diplomats who say they will weaken US influence and its ability to counter existing and emerging threats abroad. (AP)

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(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)