( CNN ) -- The United States is expelling three Venezuelan diplomats , including the South American country 's top envoy in Washington , the State Department said Tuesday night . Calixto Ortega , Venezuela 's charge d'affaires in Washington , and two other diplomats have been declared personae non gratae in response to Venezuela 's decision Monday to expel three U.S. diplomats , a State Department spokesperson said in a written statement provided to CNN . They have 48 hours to leave the United States . On Monday , Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced he was expelling three U.S. diplomats and accused them of conspiring to destabilize his government . The Venezuelan leader accused the group of diplomats of meeting with right-wing political opponents of his government , financing their activities and encouraging them to sabotage the country 's electrical system and its economy -- accusations that the State Department has repeatedly denied . `` It is regrettable that the Venezuelan government has again decided to expel U.S. diplomatic officials based on groundless allegations , which require reciprocal action . It is counterproductive to the interests of both our countries and not a serious way for a country to conduct its foreign policy , '' the State Department spokesperson said Tuesday . `` We completely reject the accounts of the Venezuelan government about any participation of the U.S. government in any type of conspiracy to destabilize the Venezuelan government . '' In addition to Ortega , Monica Alejandra Sanchez Morales , second secretary at the Venezuelan Embassy in Washington , and Marisol Gutierrez de Almeida , Venezuelan consul in Houston , were also expelled . The U.S. announcement came hours after Maduro repeated his accusations in a nationally televised broadcast , showing what he said was security camera footage that showed the U.S. diplomats meeting with members of the opposition . As she prepared to leave Caracas on Tuesday , the top U.S. envoy told reporters the meeting was part of the U.S. Embassy 's typical approach of talking with officials and members of civil society throughout the country . `` If we are not talking with these people , then we are not doing our jobs , '' said Kelly Keiderling , the U.S. charge d'affaires in Venezuela . `` If the accusation is that we met with Venezuelans , then we are guilty . '' In March : U.S. expels 2 Venezuelan diplomats .
The Venezuela declares three South American diplomats personae non gratae . The expulsion comes Monday after U.S. kicked out three U.S. diplomats . Venezuela 's president accused them of plotting to destabilize his government . State Department denies the accusations , calls them counterproductive .