U.S. diplomats in Washington are bracing for cuts to the State Department workforce, with dismissal notices expected to hit inboxes as soon as Friday, according to three State Department officials with knowledge of the plans.

Republican leaders say the cuts are necessary to make the department more nimble and efficient, but diplomats say they will weaken U.S. influence.

The State Department is firing more than 1,300 employees on Friday in line with a dramatic reorganization plan initiated by the Trump administration earlier this year. The department is sending layoff notices to 1,

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The U.S. State Department will start 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 U.S. diplomatic corps,

Rubio described the meeting as “constructive” and that the two nations can learn to manage their differences while exploring areas of cooperation.

The State Department will start sending notices to members of its workforce impacted by the reorganization soon, the agency's top official for management said on Thursday, as President Donald Trump's administration moves ahead with its plans to overhaul the U.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s comments followed a nearly hour-long meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the first in-person talks between the two officials since Rubio took office in January.