The Trump administration is considering closing nearly 30 U.S. embassies and consulates around the world as part of a sweeping plan to streamline America’s diplomatic footprint and reduce federal spending, according to a confidential State Department document obtained by CNN.
The internal proposal, which has not been publicly confirmed by the State Department, outlines the closure of 10 embassies and 17 consulates, many located in Europe and Africa, with a few in Asia and the Caribbean. The embassies slated for closure include those in Malta, Luxembourg, Lesotho, the Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, and South Sudan.
The move is part of a broader government efficiency initiative reportedly driven by the Elon Musk-backed Department of Government Efficiency, a new agency pushing for aggressive federal downsizing. It remains unclear if Secretary of State Marco Rubio has officially signed off on the changes.
In addition to the closures, the plan recommends “resizing” U.S. diplomatic operations in Somalia and Iraq, two countries critical to U.S. counterterrorism operations. The proposal also promotes consolidating services and creating “light footprint” outposts in other locations to minimize costs while maintaining basic diplomatic functions.
State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce declined to comment directly on the leaked proposal, stating, “The kinds of numbers and what we tend to see is reporting that is early or wrong, based on leaked documents from somewhere unknown.”
While the document suggests duties of closed embassies could be absorbed by neighboring missions, critics argue the closures could significantly weaken America’s diplomatic reach at a time of rising global tensions and great-power competition with China and Russia.
The embassies and consulates in question are responsible for key services such as visa processing, U.S. citizen assistance, economic diplomacy, and intelligence gathering—functions seen as critical to maintaining global influence and protecting American interests abroad.
Of the nearly 30 diplomatic posts listed for closure, only two ambassadorial nominees have been announced so far Malta and Luxembourg suggesting the administration may be prioritizing some closures ahead of others.
CNN previously reported in March that the administration was already in motion to shut down several consulates included in the draft plan, raising concerns among foreign policy experts about long-term diplomatic disengagement.
The State Department document cites several criteria for choosing which posts to eliminate, including consular workload, security risks, maintenance costs, and the condition of facilities. It also suggests that missions in Japan and Canada could serve as models for restructuring larger posts with specialized service units.
In Paris, the document recommends “dual-hatted leadership” across U.S. missions to the OECD and UNESCO, reflecting a new vision of cross-functional diplomatic representation to cut costs while maintaining international participation.
If implemented, the closure plan could mark one of the most dramatic reductions of U.S. diplomatic presence abroad in modern history, sparking debates over America’s role on the global stage and the real costs of retreating from traditional alliances and foreign partnerships
