After the Secretary of State, the US Deputy Secretary of State was fired.

Deputy Secretary Steven Goldstein. Photo: NBC

NBCSteve Goldstein, spokesman for former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and the top diplomat at the US State Department, was fired on March 13 due to disagreement with the US administration's decision to fire his superior, a White House official said. Another US State Department official also confirmed the news of Mr. Goldstein's dismissal to the White House.NBC.

The decision to fire Mr. Goldstein marks the latest departure of a senior official in the Trump administration. The decision came just hours after the White House boss announced the replacement of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson with CIA Director Mike Pompeo.

In a statement released after his dismissal, Deputy Secretary Goldstein said he was proud to work at the US State Department and that it was the honor of his life.

“I thank the Secretary and the President for giving me this opportunity. I wish everyone well and I want to take a little break,” Mr. Goldstein said.

As undersecretary for public affairs and public diplomacy, Mr. Goldstein is the fourth-highest-ranking official in the US State Department. He was sworn in on December 4 last year. According toCNNPresident Trump has appointed State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert as acting undersecretary for public diplomacy.

With Goldstein's ouster, the State Department now has only one permanent deputy secretary. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Tom Shannon is expected to retire after his successor is announced. The two remaining deputy secretary nominees are still awaiting Senate confirmation.