The State Department began firing more than 1,350 U.S.-based employees on Friday as the administration of President Donald Trump presses ahead with an unprecedented overhaul of its diplomatic corps, a move critics say will undermine U.

The State Department will lay off more than 1,300 people as part of a broad restructuring plan, Reuters is reporting. The layoffs will affect 1,107 civil servants and 246 foreign service officers, according to Reuters, which said it has seen an internal notice. The Associated Press is reporting the same number.

The Associated Press reported on Friday, July 11, that the department would be sending layoff notices to 1,107 civil servants and 246 foreign officers with domestic assignments in the United States.

Live updates and the latest news as President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump tour the Texas flood devastation and the U.S. prepares to impose blanket tariffs on trading partners.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio insists he is streamlining a bloated department, but critics warn the cost to America’s standing and influence could be high.

A rally is expected, with supporters “clapping out” departing State Department employees and protesting the layoffs at 4 p.m. Friday.

Employees of the U.S. State Department could receive a layoff notice via email very soon as part of the Trump administration's plan to downsize the government.

The department will begin issuing layoff notices to employees via email “in the coming days,” according to a staff memo obtained by The Washington Post.