U.S. considers closing over 10 consulates, mainly in western Europe

The U.S. State Department is weighing the closure of more than 10 consulates worldwide, with most located in Western Europe, sources told Reuters on Friday.

US President Donald J. Trump (R) gives remarks to the media in the Oval Office of the White House, as he meets with US entrepreneur and U.S. special government employee Elon Musk (L), in Washington, DC, USA, 11 February 2025.

EPA/Aaron Schwartz

Hamburg, Strasbourg, and Florence are among the posts under review, alongside additional sites in Germany, France, Italy, Portugal, and Brazil.

Officials familiar with the matter said the list is not yet final. The State Department is also considering merging several offices at its Washington headquarters, particularly those focused on human rights, the refugee crisis, women’s issues, and anti-trafficking initiatives.

The review follows a February request for U.S. diplomatic missions to reduce staffing by at least 10%. That same month, President Donald Trump issued an executive order to reorganize the American foreign service, in coordination with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led by billionaire Elon Musk.

According to officials, the department has already notified Congress of plans to shutter its mission in Gaziantep, southeastern Turkey, which supported humanitarian operations in northern Syria.

The State Department’s website states that the United States operates over 270 diplomatic missions globally, employing nearly 70,000 people.

Of those, about 45,000 are locally employed staff, 13,000 are members of the Foreign Service, and 11,000 are civil service personnel.

(jh)

Source: Reuters, PAP