The State Department is planning to close agencies, consulates and several U.S. diplomatic missions to advance President Trump’s “America First” agenda, according to an internal memo recently leaked to the press.
On Tuesday, the White House and the State Department disputed the budget figures in the memo, such as a nearly 50% budget cut, asserting that the proposal for the fiscal 2026 budget was not finalized.
“It was not released by the secretary, there is no final plan, final budget, final dynamic. That is up to the White House and the president of the United States as they continue to work on their budget plan and what they will submit to Congress,” State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters at the Pentagon.
The memo said the U.S. would “resize” several consulates in major cities in Canada, Japan, Germany, France and Italy by turning them into “FLEX-style” light consulates. All told, 10 embassies and 17 consulates would be shuttered, mostly in Africa and Europe. Closed embassies would be folded into similar facilities in neighboring countries.
In the document, the State Department explained that it had considered myriad factors when determining which consulates to close, including the cost to taxpayers, security rating and condition of facilities.
The cuts to embassies and consulates would significantly contribute to achieving a 48% cut to $28 billion from $54 billion in the fiscal 2025 budget.
The White House said budget cuts are still being figured out as the State Department works to curb inefficiencies in America’s massive diplomatic footprint.
American embassies and consulates host various U.S. intelligence, military, trade and law enforcement officials. Diplomatic employees work with host nations to monitor national security threats such as terrorism and foster relations between the U.S. and foreign governments.
The funding proposal outlined in the memo also ends financial support for international organizations such as NATO and the United Nations. However, targeted financial support for groups such as the International Atomic Energy Agency will remain.
The proposal still requires multiple reviews and approval from Secretary of State Marco Rubio before being submitted to Congress, where it is expected to face opposition.
The final budget proposal is expected to reach Congress later this month.
The Trump administration has been repositioning the U.S. abroad through cuts to international programs, increased defense spending and sweeping tariffs.
Reports of possible embassy and consulate closures in Africa alarmed international affairs experts, who say the cuts could help America’s rivals.
“Outrageously bad decision. A giant gift to the Communist Party of China,” former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul wrote on social media. “I hope Congress finally begins to play its role as outlined in the Constitution and push back on this.”
According to the memo, consulates in Eritrea and South Sudan would close, which would be another blow to U.S.-African relations. Earlier this month, Mr. Rubio revoked all visas for South Sudanese citizens. Mr. Trump expelled South Africa’s U.S. ambassador in March.
The White House faced similar criticism over its efforts to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development, which the agency’s supporters say is a key instrument of U.S. soft power abroad. In February, the Trump administration fired hundreds of USAID staffers and placed nearly all employees on leave. The White House revealed that USAID spent millions of dollars on frivolous programs that advanced a leftist agenda, such as programs for transgender performances of art around the world.
Critics warned that slashing international aid programs combined with promises to dramatically increase defense spending is a dangerous combination.
“This decimation of the State Department also serves as a clear indication that it is prioritizing militarism over diplomacy,” Dylan Williams, vice president for government affairs at the Center for International Policy, said in a statement. “Donald Trump has said he wants to be a president who ends wars, but moves like this will make that much more difficult.”
