The entire senior level of management officials at the US State department has resigned - rather than serve under President Donald Trump.

In the latest display of disquiet among civil servants in Washington over the new commander-in-chief, the four top senior officials at the equivalent of America's foreign ministry, announced they were standing down.

The new Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, was present in the department’s offices in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood of Washington DC, when the officials resigned on Wednesday, the Washington Post reported.

The officials were Patrick Kennedy, Under Secretary of State for Management, Assistant Secretary of State for Administration Joyce Anne Barr, Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Michele Bond and Ambassador Gentry Smith, director of the Office of Foreign Missions. All four of the officials served under both Democratic and Republican administrations.

The state department officials join a growing number of civil servants who have left since Mr Trump took office on January 20.

Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security Gregory Starr, and director of the Bureau of Overseas Building Operations Lydia Muniz left last Friday.

Mr Tillerson was the former chief executive of ExxonMobil.

Independent News Service