According to Reuters on August 4th, sources familiar with the matter revealed that the U.S. Department of State has informed Congress that it plans to close five foreign agencies.
Sources familiar with the matter said that this would involve U.S. offices located in St. George, Grenada; Nagoya, Japan; Palembang, Indonesia; Douala, Cameroon; and Winnipeg, Canada. Since the notice has not been made public, the source requested to remain anonymous.
Reports indicate that this is a rare instance of the United States reducing its global diplomatic presence. This plan has not been reported before, and it is unusual for the U.S. to close several foreign institutions without involving specific geopolitical events.
When Trump returned to the White House last year, the U.S. State Department began preparing to close a dozen foreign agencies. Reuters and other media reported at the time that this was part of Trump's broader efforts to ensure that the U.S. bureaucracy fully served the "America First" agenda.
According to reports, the White House Management and Budget Office has advocated a more ambitious plan for closing down agencies, with the goal of shutting down up to 30 foreign institutions. Some government officials privately believe that some smaller foreign institutions are not necessary and do not offer good cost-benefit ratios.
However, Democrats and some former foreign policy and national security officials believe that this move will reduce the United States’ diplomatic influence. Coupled with the dissolution of the U.S. International Development Agency, which provides billions of dollars in aid worldwide, it is possible to further weaken the United States’ leadership. These people also mention China and Russia, claiming that this will leave a dangerous void.
According to reports, although the U.S. State Department carried out major reforms to its bureaucracy last year—reducing dozens of departments and hundreds of staff members—it did not close any of its foreign missions.
Earlier in the day, the United States Department of State issued a statement regarding the reports, but did not confirm the closure of diplomatic missions. The statement stated that the focus of the Department of State is to ensure the efficient operation of the U.S. diplomatic institutions. It also indicated that the agency will follow the congressional notification procedures.
