The U.S. State Department is preparing to close several consulates, primarily in Western Europe, and reduce its global workforce in the coming months, according to multiple officials.
As part of the cost-cutting initiative, the department is also considering merging several expert bureaus at its Washington headquarters. These include divisions focused on human rights, refugees, global criminal justice, women’s issues, and efforts to combat human trafficking.
Last month, Reuters reported that U.S. missions worldwide had been asked to explore a minimum 10% reduction in both American and locally employed staff. The directive aligns with President Donald Trump’s broader effort, supported by billionaire aide Elon Musk, to downsize the federal workforce.
Trump has emphasized aligning the government with his “America First” agenda. In a recent executive order, he moved to overhaul the U.S. Foreign Service to ensure “faithful and effective” execution of his foreign policy. During his campaign, he frequently vowed to “clean out” what he calls the “deep state” by removing bureaucrats he views as disloyal.
Critics warn that scaling back the U.S. diplomatic presence, coupled with efforts to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), could weaken American influence and create opportunities for adversaries like China and Russia.
Trump and Musk argue that the federal government is too large and that taxpayer-funded aid has been mismanaged through waste and fraud.
Among the consulates being considered for closure are Leipzig, Hamburg, and Düsseldorf in Germany; Bordeaux and Strasbourg in France; and Florence in Italy, according to officials. However, some staff are advocating for certain locations to remain open.
In addition, the State Department has informed Congress of its plan to close its branch in Gaziantep, Turkey, a key hub for U.S. humanitarian efforts in northern Syria.
A State Department spokesperson stated: “The State Department continues to assess our global posture to ensure we are best positioned to address modern challenges on behalf of the American people.”
Currently, the department operates more than 270 diplomatic missions worldwide and employs nearly 70,000 people.
