Nearly 30 US diplomatic agencies may be closed
The Trump administration is planning to slash the State Department's budget by nearly half, a plan that could lead to the closure of nearly 30 US diplomatic missions and sharp cuts in foreign aid.
Accordingly, the Trump administration proposed to cut nearly $30 billion in fiscal year 2026. This content is stated in the document called "Passback" - the response of the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to the State Department's budget proposal for the fiscal year starting October 1, 2025.
The State Department may propose changes, but a U.S. official said the final version would likely be changed “very slightly” before it goes to both houses of Congress for approval. The official also said it was “highly likely” that Congress would restore some of the budget cuts.
The Trump administration is considering closing at least 27 US missions, mainly in Africa and Europe, Reuters reported, citing a separate memo. Of these, 10 are embassies and the rest are consulates.
The State Department, White House and OMB did not respond to requests for comment on the plan.
The deliberations come as the Trump administration, along with the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency, is pushing to slash the size of the federal government. The goal is to drastically reduce spending and streamline the bureaucracy, including cutting thousands of jobs.
During his first term, President Trump proposed cutting about a third of the budget for foreign affairs and international aid. However, Congress - the body that has the power to decide the federal budget - rejected this proposal.
Also according to Reuters, in the "passback" summary, the proposed budget for the State Department in fiscal year 2026 is $28.4 billion, a significant decrease compared to the current year's $54.4 billion.
At the same time, foreign aid administered by the State Department and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) would also be cut, from $38.3 billion to $16.9 billion.
The document also requires any proposed budget adjustments to be submitted by noon on April 15.
Under the plan, the administration will dissolve USAID, merge some of its functions into the State Department, and terminate programs deemed duplicative or no longer aligned with government priorities. The dismantling of USAID began in February, with more than 5,000 programs terminated, hundreds of contractors terminated, and thousands of employees given termination notices.
The document also states that existing large-scale humanitarian aid and refugee assistance programs will be eliminated. Instead, two new programs will be created: a $2.5 billion international humanitarian assistance program and a $1.5 billion President’s Emergency Program for Refugees and Migrants.
According to the document, the new programs will focus on “emerging and urgent crises, both domestic and foreign,” and are designed to “put the interests of American citizens first.”
