Robert Besser
18 Apr 2025, 19:45 GMT+10
WASHINGTON, D.C. President Donald Trump's administration wants to cut the State Department's budget by nearly half, according to documents seen by Reuters. This would mean closing almost 30 U.S. embassies and consulates and sharply reducing foreign aid.
The planned $30 billion cut is part of the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 's budget proposal for 2026. While the State Department can suggest changes, one official said only minor edits are likely before it's sent to Congress, where lawmakers may restore some funding.
The Washington Post first reported the internal documents. One memo suggests closing at least 27 U.S. missions, mainly in Africa and Europe. This includes 10 embassies and 17 consulates.
Neither the State Department, the White House, nor the OMB has commented publicly.
The budget plan is part of a wider effort by the Trump administration and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency to shrink the size of the federal government by cutting spending and jobs.
Trump tried similar cuts in his first term, but Congress didn't approve them.
The proposed budget would give the State Department $28.4 billion in 2026, down from $54.4 billion now. It also cuts foreign aid from $38.3 billion to $16.9 billion.
USAID, which helps run foreign aid programs, is being shut down. Many of its programs are being canceled, and its work is being moved into the State Department. Thousands of workers have already been let go.
The new plan would eliminate big programs that help in global disasters and refugee support. In their place, two new programs would be created, focused on urgent crises at home and abroad, and aimed at putting "Americans first."
The plan also removes funding for Enduring Welcome, a program that helped evacuate and resettle Afghans who worked with the U.S. during the war.
All educational and cultural programs, including the long-running Fulbright exchange program, would be cut.
Embassies set to close include those in Eritrea, Luxembourg, South Sudan, Malta, and the Maldives. Consulates that may shut down include those in South Korea, South Africa, Indonesia, and Cameroon. Some large U.S. missions, like those in Japan and Canada, could be downsized.
The U.S. embassies in Somalia and Iraq—described as the most expensive—are also being targeted for reduction.
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