The United States State Department is preparing to close several consulates, predominantly located in Western Europe, within the upcoming months. This move is part of a broader cost-cutting strategy affecting the federal workforce. Consulates in cities such as Leipzig, Hamburg, and Dusseldorf in Germany, Bordeaux and Strasbourg in France, and Florence in Italy are under consideration for closure. Alongside these closures, the department is evaluating potential mergers of several expert bureaus at its Washington headquarters.
These mergers may involve bureaus focusing on human rights, refugees, global criminal justice, women's issues, and efforts to counter human trafficking. The department, operating more than 270 diplomatic missions worldwide, employs nearly 70,000 individuals. However, it has been tasked with reducing its workforce by at least 10%, targeting both US and locally employed staff.
The impetus for these reductions stems from an unprecedented cost-cutting initiative across the US federal workforce. President Donald Trump and his aide, Elon Musk, have expressed concerns about the size of the US government. They argue that taxpayer-funded aid has been mismanaged, leading to wasteful and fraudulent spending.
Further changes could involve shutting down the State Department's branch in Gaziantep, Turkey. This branch has been instrumental in supporting humanitarian efforts in northern Syria. The department is also preparing to revamp the US foreign service in line with an executive order issued by Trump last month. This revamp aims to ensure the "faithful and effective" implementation of Trump's foreign policy agenda.
A spokesperson for the State Department commented on these developments:
"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." – A state department spokesperson
Critics warn that these potential cuts could undermine American leadership globally. They express concerns about a potential power vacuum that could be exploited by adversaries such as China and Russia. Additionally, there is apprehension surrounding the dismantling of the US Agency for International Development (USAid), which could impact America's humanitarian influence.