WASHINGTON - The U.S. State Department has notified Congress of plans to close five overseas diplomatic missions in five countries, including its consulate in the central Japan city of Nagoya, Reuters reported Monday.
The planned closures would also cover the U.S. Embassy in Grenada and posts in Canada's Winnipeg, Indonesia's Medan and Cameroon's Douala, according to Reuters. The rare move of closing multiple foreign missions is seen as part of a broader push by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration to align bureaucracy with his "America First" policy.
A State Department spokesperson told Kyodo News that no additional information is available at this time, adding, "We are focused on ensuring our diplomatic footprint is efficient, effective, and delivers results for the American people."
The second Trump administration has sought to reduce the size of federal government agencies as part of efforts to cut spending, with reports indicating that the State Department has already laid off many of its staff.
Democrats and other critics argue that cuts to the U.S. diplomatic footprint could weaken the country's soft power and global influence.
