USA want to shorten the funds for Foreign Ministry and close messages – Diepresse.com

According to media reports, the US government is considering drastic cuts in its foreign policy. As US media reported on Tuesday, almost 50 percent of the funds in the US State Department-including almost all funds for international organizations such as NATO and UN, also for UN missions for peacekeeping. US messages and consulates in Germany, France, Italy or Scotland are apparently also being put to the test.

The « New York Times » and the « Washington Post » report on internal documents from the Foreign Ministry, for the budget year 2026 (from October 1), a budget of $ 28.4 billion is in discussion (around 25.2 billion euros) – that would be $ 26 billion or 48 percent less than in the budget year 2025.

Unclear whether Austrian representations are affected

According to a report by the online platform « Punchbowl News », the closure of ten messages and 17 consulates is planned. Among other things, the US general consulates in Düsseldorf and Leipzig could fall victim to the savings measures. Five foreign representatives in France are therefore also on the prank list, including Strasbourg and Lyon. Further closures could affect Italy, Scotland, Luxembourg, Malta, Eritrea and the South Sudan.

It was not mentioned whether the US representatives in Austria are also affected. The US embassy in Vienna was able to « provide no information » on the APA request.

Also in the sights of the means for peace security missions of the UN

The US government also is considering deleting funds for the United Nations Peace missions. Failures in Mali, Lebanon and the Democratic Republic of Congo are named as the reason, as can be seen from internal planning documents. Corresponding documents from the White House budget office were available to the Reuters news agency on Tuesday (local time).

Washington is the largest contribution payer in the United Nations, even before China. Around 22 percent of the regular UN core budget of $ 3.7 billion (EUR 3.25 billion) and 27 percent of the budget for peace-based measures of $ 5.6 billion come from the United States.

Education initiatives could also be affected

According to the newspaper reports, the reduction project could also affect education initiatives. The Fulbright scholarship, one of the most prestigious US funding programs, would be affected, it said. The US graduate association AFSA criticized the proposals as « dangerous ».

Trump has the last word

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said the plans were not finally coordinated. US President Donald Trump has the last word for the budget proposals to the congress. According to the reports, it is unclear whether Trump’s Foreign Minister Marco Rubio has approved the outlines outlined. As part of the austerity policy announced by Trump, all government departments are called to submit their plans for cuts this week.

The United States has already resolved its development aid organization USAID under Trump and deleted 83 percent of its programs. Among other things, the UN complains about dramatic consequences for global aid programs, for example, against infectious diseases. (APA/Reuters)