As reported by TASS, citing Blinken's written statement, the American side will have to do this due to the prohibition of the Russian authorities to hire Russian and third-country nationals to work in American diplomatic missions in the country.
“We are deeply saddened that these actions will force us to release 182 local employees and dozens of contractors at our diplomatic facilities in Moscow, Vladivostok and Yekaterinburg ... These annoying measures will seriously affect the activities of the US mission in Russia,” the Secretary of State said.
Earlier, the Russian authorities informed the United States that they would postpone the ban on hiring local citizens by the American embassy, the American embassy reported.