The Trump administration plans to close nearly 30 Embassies and Consulates of the United States around the world within the framework of a broader effort to reduce the federal government’s fingerprint, according to a document from the internal State Department obtained by CNN.
The proposal includes the closure of 10 embassies and 17 consulates, with positions in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Caribbean identified for potential closure. Among those listed are embassies in Malta, Luxembourg, Lesotho, the Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic and South Sudan, and consulates in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, South Africa, South Korea, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The document also recommends a reduction in American diplomatic missions in Iraq and Somalia – both the key to the policy of fighting American terrorism – and a reconfiguration of operations in larger countries such as Japan and Canada, where consular services could be consolidated in “specialized units”.
This decision reflects the broader attempt of the administration to rationalize foreign operations, a push in part by the Ministry of Elon Musk’s Government. The agency has recommended drastic measures to reduce costs and reduce federal structures.
It is not clear if the Secretary of State Marco Rubio officially approved the closures. The document, prepared by the management of management, declares that the positions were evaluated according to the security ratings, the conditions of the establishment, the costs of personnel and the consular workload.
A spokesperson for the State Department refused to confirm the content of the disclosed document.
“I suggest that you check with the White House and the President of the United States as they continue to work on their budgetary plan,” said spokesman Tammy Bruce. “The types of numbers and what we tend to see is the early or bad relationship, based on documents disclosed by an unknown place.”
The officials claim that the closures would be offset by transferring responsibilities to the nearby missions and by implementing “flexible” diplomatic positions with limited staff in certain countries.
The proposed changes are involved in the middle of budget cuts, reducing foreign aid and reshaping of the global commitment strategy under the second term of President Trump. Critics warn that the decrease in the American presence abroad could hinder diplomatic influence and weaken support for American citizens abroad.
