The Atlantic relayed this AP/ Washington Post story insinuating that these officials were resigning in protest of President Trump.
Even CNN ( https://www.cnn.com/2017/01/26/politics/top-state-department-officials-asked-to-leave-by-trump-administration/index.html ) and Vox ( https://www.vox.com/world/2017/1/27/14405542/washington-post-state-department-resignations ) stated how misleading this Washington Post story was. Here is a quote from a State Department Official at the time:
“Any implication that that these four people quit is wrong,” the senior State Department official said. “These people are loyal to the secretary, the President and to the State Department. There is just not any attempt here to dis the President. People are not quitting and running away in disgust. This is the White House cleaning house.”