Senior State Department officials described the changes as "the most complicated reorganization in government history," emphasizing that the cuts were largely made to eliminate Cold War-era redundancies as well as eliminating functions that were "no longer aligned with the president's foreign policy priorities."

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.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio began mass firings at the State Department on Monday, part of a reorganization plan to form a leaner foreign policy force that, he argues, will allow the United

State Department eliminates 132 offices and cuts 15% of Washington staff in Marco Rubio's sweeping overhaul criticized as diplomatic vandalism.

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 epicenter of the crisis is Texas, particularly Gaines County, where 414 of the state’s 753 cases have been reported

According to the State Department, the suspension was part of the “dynamic” scheduling process to interview for those visas. Interview timelines are based on the up-to-date information immigration officers need for a proper review of the applicant, according to the State Department.

The U.S. Justice Department said on Tuesday that a Chinese state-sponsored contract hacker was arrested last week in Italy at the request of the United States government.