The Trump administration is considering shutting down nearly 30 U.S. embassies and consulates abroad, signaling a major shift in American diplomatic strategy, according to an internal State Department document cited by CNN.
The document outlines a proposal to close 10 embassies and 17 consulates, with many located in Europe and Africa, and others in Asia and the Caribbean. Among the embassies recommended for closure are those in Malta, Luxembourg, Lesotho, the Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, and South Sudan. The list of consulates includes several in France, Germany, Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as ones in the UK, South Africa, and South Korea.
Additionally, the proposal suggests reducing the U.S. diplomatic presence in Somalia and Iraq—nations considered central to American counterterrorism efforts—and resizing other foreign missions. In place of the shuttered posts, the document recommends transferring responsibilities to nearby U.S. embassies.
These changes are part of a broader government-wide overhaul reportedly driven by the Elon Musk-backed Department of Government Efficiency, which is pushing for dramatic reductions in the size of the federal government. However, it remains unclear whether Secretary of State Marco Rubio has approved the proposed downsizing.
When asked for comment, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce declined to address the leaked document, urging reporters to direct questions to the White House. “We often see reports based on early or inaccurate information from unidentified sources,” Bruce said.
So far, ambassadorial nominations have only been announced for two of the embassies on the proposed closure list—Malta and Luxembourg.