By Kabiru Abdulrauf.
In a dramatic shift that could redefine America’s global presence, the U.S. State Department is reportedly considering an unprecedented rollback of its diplomatic footprint—proposing the closure of multiple embassies and consulates worldwide, including missions in South Sudan, France, and Canada.
According to an internal departmental memo obtained by several media outlets, the proposed plan seeks to slash the State Department’s budget by nearly 50%, affecting everything from embassy operations to support for international organizations such as the United Nations and NATO.
Under the draft proposal, 10 embassies and 17 consulates are earmarked for closure, including diplomatic missions in Eritrea, Luxembourg, Malta, and South Sudan. Five of the affected consulates are located in France, with others in Germany, Scotland, and Italy. In Canada, U.S. consulates in Montreal and Halifax would be significantly downsized to “last-mile” operations with minimal local support.
The proposed cuts would also gut funding for international peacekeeping efforts and severely impact flagship educational and cultural programs such as the Fulbright Scholarship—long viewed as a symbol of America’s soft power diplomacy.
The initiative appears to align with a broader effort by former President Donald Trump to scale back government spending and redefine America’s role on the global stage. However, the final decision rests with the White House and Congress, with State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce cautioning that no definitive budget or closure list has been approved.
“There is no final plan, final budget, final dynamic,” Bruce stated during a briefing. “That is up to the White House and the president of the United States.”
If enacted, the proposed cuts would mark one of the most significant retrenchments in U.S. diplomatic history, raising concerns about diminished global influence and weakened alliances at a time of mounting geopolitical challenges.
