The Trump administration has laid off 1,107 civil service and 246 foreign Service employees from the State Department as part of its federal workforce reduction plan. Over 1,500 others had already left voluntarily earlier this year, according to BBC.

The cuts hit key areas like the refugee admissions office and the Afghan Relocation Efforts (CARE) team. The move comes after the Supreme Court cleared the administration’s plan to reduce the workforce by 18 percent.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the layoffs followed bureau closures, not targeted firings. But Senate Democrats criticized the move, warning it weakens national security and government effectiveness.

The layoffs follow the shutdown of USAID, with most of its programs cancelled and the rest absorbed by the State Department, BBC reported.