Use, also cuts in the State Department: at risk 30 billion and 27 diplomatic offices
In the draft budget reduced funds by 50% and a withdrawal plan from Africa. The fears that the closures weaken the influence while China increases the presence on the African content. Stop the Fulbright program
From our correspondent
New York – The dark cuts also breaks down on American diplomacythat the Trump administration is preparing to redesign radically. According to internal documents examined by the agency Reutersthe White House intends to cut the budget of the State Department almost 50% in 2026, with serious consequences: 27 US diplomatic missions could be closed, largely in Africa and Europe, of which 10 embassies and 17 consulates.
The plan, still in the revision phase, is contained in a document called « Passback », The formal response of the Office of Management and Budget (OB) – led by the new Department for Government Efficiency (Doge) directed by Elon Musk – to the budget proposal of the State Department. Closures are part of a wider strategy, which provides for the drastic reduction of federal staff, The elimination of the USAID Agencyand the cut of thousands of international assistance programs.
Among the embassies that could be closed There are those in Eritrea, Grenada, Lesotho, Central African Republic, Luxembourg, Republic of Congo, Gambia, South Sudan, Malta and Maldive. Consulates at risk include Busan (South Korea), Durban (South Africa), Medan (Indonesia) and Douala (Cameroon), as well as numerous offices in Europe.
The plan also suggests The reduction of missions to countries that require huge resources to guarantee safety, such as Somalia and Iraqthe most expensive missions ever, and the rationalization of diplomatic offices in Japan and Canada with the merger of various consulates.
The official motivation of the downsizing is cheap: The administration intends to cut around $ 30 billion to the state department’s budget. For 2026, the ORD offers a budget of 28.4 billion compared to 54.4 billion this year. In particular, Funds for historical programs such as « Enduring Welcome » will be eliminated,, intended for relocation to the United States of Afghani US collaborators and risk of Taliban retaliation, e The famous Fulbright cultural exchange program, born in 1946. In their place two new tools: a 1.5 billion presidential humanitarian fund and a 2.5 billion international assistance package, intended for « new urgent, internal and foreign crises ».
According to the ORD, these measures « put the interests of American citizens first ». But The reactions did not wait. Foreign and diplomatic policy experts fear that the closure of missions in strategic regions such as Africa weakens the ability of the United States to have influence just as other powers, such as China, increase their diplomatic and economic presence.
During his first term, Trump had already proposed significant cuts to funds for diplomacy and international cooperationbut the congress – which has the last word on the budget – had rejected most of those proposals. You will see what will juicy this time.
