WASHINGTON — The U.S. State Department has notified Congress that it plans to close five overseas diplomatic missions, a rare contraction of the American diplomatic footprint that the administration says is part of a broader effort to streamline operations and reduce costs.
The missions are in St. George’s, Grenada; Nagoya, Japan; Medan, Indonesia; Douala, Cameroon; and Winnipeg, Canada, according to people familiar with the congressional notification and documents reviewed by U.S. media. The posts include an embassy, three consular or diplomatic facilities and an embassy branch office.
The closures are expected to save the U.S. government about $4.4 million annually, according to notices sent to congressional committees, the Associated Press reported. The administration has been restructuring the State Department under President Donald Trump's "America First" agenda, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio supporting efforts to reduce what officials regard as unnecessary or inefficient government operations.
The State Department did not directly confirm the five closures when asked about the plans, but said it was working to ensure that the country's diplomatic presence overseas was efficient and effective and would follow required congressional notification procedures, Reuters reported.
The planned shutdowns have prompted concern among Democrats and some former U.S. foreign policy and national security officials that reducing diplomatic posts, alongside broader cuts to foreign assistance, could diminish American influence and create opportunities for China and Russia to expand their presence.
China maintains diplomatic missions in St. George's, Nagoya and Medan, although it does not have a functioning mission in Winnipeg or Douala, according to Reuters. The comparison has fueled debate over whether the closures could reduce U.S. access and influence in strategically important regions.
The move follows a broader State Department overhaul begun during Trump's first months back in office in 2025. The administration had considered closing substantially more overseas missions, with the White House Office of Management and Budget advocating a plan that could have affected as many as 30 posts. No foreign missions were ultimately shuttered during last year's restructuring, Reuters reported.
At the same time, the administration has been seeking to restore U.S. diplomatic operations in locations considered strategically important, including reopening or advancing plans for missions in countries such as Venezuela, Syria and Libya.
The five closures remain subject to the State Department's congressional notification process. No final closure dates were publicly confirmed as of Aug. 9.
