WASHINGTON (Reuters) -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, a move critics say will undermine U.S. interest abroad.

The State Department is set to fire 1,300 staff as Trump, Rubio push sweeping reorganization targeting refugee, human rights, and diplomatic programs.