4 US officials familiar with – Monday – said that the administration of US President Donald Trump wanted to reduce half of the budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by more than $ 30 billion during the year 2026, a huge reduction that could lead to the closure of almost 30 diplomatic missions, as well as a reduction in foreign aid by around 75%.
Reuters cited the sources saying that the cuts had been mentioned in the Budget Budget Bureau’s response to the White House – the administration and budget office – to funding requests submitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the next fiscal year, which begins on October 1.
According to a separate internal memorandum seen by Reuters, the administration plans to close at least 27 diplomatic missions, most of them in Africa and Europe, as part of the plan that has not yet been completed, 10 of these missions, embassies and the others.
According to Reuters, this document raises ideas on how to move to a cheaper operating model in at least 4 other external missions.
Trump signed a decree last January – the day he returned to the White House – he ordered to freeze American foreign aid for a period of 90 days until a full exam was carried out.