The Trump administration is considering a significant reduction in the U.S. diplomatic presence abroad, including the closure of nearly 30 embassies and consulates worldwide.
This proposal is part of a broader initiative to downsize the federal government, influenced by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), backed by Elon Musk.
The State Department is reportedly evaluating the closure of 10 embassies and 17 consulates, with many located in Europe and Africa. Specific locations under consideration include embassies in Malta, Luxembourg, Lesotho, the Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, and South Sudan, as well as consulates in France, Germany, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the United Kingdom, South Africa, and South Korea.
The proposed closures aim to consolidate diplomatic functions into neighboring missions, potentially reducing the U.S. diplomatic footprint. Additionally, there are plans to cut the State Department’s budget by nearly half, from $54.4 billion in 2025 to $28.4 billion in 2026, and to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), absorbing its operations into the State Department.
This budget proposal also seeks to eliminate funding for various international programs, including those supporting democracy, global health, education, drug interdiction, refugee assistance, and U.N. peacekeeping.
These proposed changes have raised concerns among lawmakers and international allies. Critics argue that reducing the U.S. diplomatic presence and foreign aid could undermine American leadership and global influence, leaving a vacuum that adversaries like China and Russia might exploit. The final decisions on these proposals will require Congressional approval, and it remains to be seen how lawmakers will respond.
