Several senior-level managers at the US State Department are reported to have resigned.<br /><br /> However, there are conflicting claims over what this means.<br /><br /> Some say it is an abrupt departure in protest against Donald Trump’s presidency.<br /><br /> But others say it is routine procedure in the wake of a change of political administration.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Four top officials ousted at State Department as Trump administration takes shape https://t.co/Lt3QDBjFEl pic.twitter.com/iR5XKjQ9Hu— NBC News (@NBCNews) January 27, 2017<br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Who has resigned?<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Under-Secretary for Management Patrick Kennedy and acting Under-Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Thomas Countryman both plan to leave their posts by Friday.<br /><br /> Assistant Secretary for State for Diplomatic Security Gregory Starr and Michele Bond, Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs, are also said to be leaving.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> “It’s not two weeks notice”<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> The departures were discussed at State Department meetings on Thursday morning.<br /><br /> There is reportedly some unease. This is partly because at least two of the officials have been asked to go by Friday.<br /><br /> “It’s not two weeks notice,” said one official who spoke on condition of anonymity, referring to the statutory notice period for leaving employment in the US.<br /><br /> The department itself has stressed that turnover is the norm when a new political party comes to power.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Turnover – “the rule, not the exception”<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Insiders say turnover is the rule, rather than the exception, among top US government officials when the White House changes hands from one party to another.<br /><br /> In this case, it is from Democrat Barack Obama to Republican Donald Trump.<br /><br /> Political appointees chosen by the Senate were obliged to submit letters of resignation after the election last November the 8th.<br /><br /> This is to give the new president the opportunity to place his own people in the jobs.<br /><br /> At least one media report has suggested that the departures amount to a mass resignation. <br /><br /> However, several US officials have said this is not the case.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Secretary of State-designate<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> The US Secretary of State-designate visited the State Department on Tuesday for briefings.<br /><br /> Former oil executive Rex Tillerson had narrowly won approval from a Senate committee the day before.<br /><br /> Confirmation by the full Senate is the next step.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson advances out of Senate committee https://t.co/gWSxj0iDmt— NBC Politics (@NBCPolitics) January 23, 2017<br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> It was Tillerson’s first meeting at his new place of employment since new US President Donald Trump nominated him as his choice for secretary of state.<br /><br /> The Senate Foreign Relations Committe voted 11-10 on Monday to approve Tillerson.<br />
