Trump administration eyes closure of nearly 30 US embassies and consulates: Report

The Trump administration is weighing plans to close nearly 30 US embassies and consulates around the world as part of an effort to downsize the federal government's overseas presence, according to a report Tuesday.

The internal State Department document, which outlines recommendations by its undersecretary for management, proposes shuttering 10 embassies and 17 consulates, with a majority located in Europe and Africa, CNN reported.

Posts identified for closure include embassies in Malta, Luxembourg, Lesotho, the Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic and South Sudan, as well as consulates in France, Germany, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the United Kingdom, South Africa and South Korea.

It remains unclear whether Secretary of State Marco Rubio has approved the proposed changes. The closures would reportedly be offset by transferring responsibilities to nearby missions.

The internal document also recommends reducing US diplomatic footprints in Iraq and Somalia along with “resizing” other missions. Suggestions include creating “FLEX-style light footprint posts” with limited staff and responsibilities and consolidating consulate support into specialized units at larger missions in countries like Japan and Canada.

Asked about the potential closures, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce declined to confirm the document's authenticity or provide specifics.

“I would suggest that you check with the White House and the president of the US as they continue to work on their budget plan,” Bruce told reporters during a daily press briefing.

“The kinds of numbers and what we tend to see is reporting that is early or wrong, based on leaked documents from somewhere unknown,” she added.