President Donald Trump's administration is considering closing as many as 30 consulates and embassies worldwide, the Kenya Times reported. This would impact Europe and Asia, but more than half of the closures could affect Africa.
The State Department is looking to cut 50% of its yearly budget and hopes to slash foreign aid by nearly 75%. The closings of foreign outposts would go a long way toward getting that plan in action.
On the chopping block are European embassies in countries like Luxembourg and Malta, as well as consulates across Asia and Europe. However, as shown in a map from CNN shared to X, formerly Twitter, Africa would have the most embassies cut, while Europe would see several of its consulates disappear.
Trump Admin to close down nearly 30 embassies and consulates.
CNN Map here pic.twitter.com/zgSNLR3YNU
— Rashid Abdi (@RAbdiAnalyst) April 16, 2025
Running embassies and consulates is expensive and may have arguably small benefits in certain nations. Still, the left is breathlessly warning about the dire consequences of this cost-cutting measure.
For instance, State Department internal documents indicate that the diplomatic arrangements in Iraq and Somalia could impact the ongoing counterterrorism activities from there. However, the initiative wouldn't eliminate the U.S. presence but tighten up the coverage.
Some consulates and embassies are redundant when there is a nearby outpost that can easily cover for both areas. The purpose of these entities is to help American citizens with issues while in the countries where the outposts are located.
They can process visas or provide other help to American citizens, but they are also tasked with diplomacy. This is especially important in adversarial nations like China, where information gathering helps officials in Washington, D.C. make policy decisions from afar.
Despite all the handwringing, it appears that the closures will be strategic and not leave territories completely uncovered. The State Department documents recommend "resizing" of some missions using the plan already undertaken in Canada and Japan "as a model large mission by consolidating consulate support into a specialized unit," where possible.
According to Fox News, the embassy and consulate closures are part of a larger cost-saving plan. However, lawmakers like Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, who is the leading Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, warned that these cuts "would leave our country alone and exposed and allow China and Russia to fill the vacuum made vacant by this administration."
However, according to State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce, these fears are overblown. "Throughout the history of the United States, everyone has a budget plan and everyone has ideas for budgets," she explained.
"And every president has a budget plan and sends it to Congress. And then Congress either accepts it or they have their own ideas, which happens more often than not," Bruce said.
"There is no final plan, final budget," Bruce added. There are many checks and balances in place for these sorts of moves, but that doesn't stop the left from pouncing at the first hint of cuts anywhere.
It's crucial for the U.S. to have an international presence, but there are certainly ways to streamline it. Trump has been working hard to cut the waste out of government spending, and that's what he was elected to do, whichever way he sees most fit to do so.
