US State Department to Close Five Overseas Missions

The State Department has notified Congress that it plans to shut down five US diplomatic missions across Africa, Asia and the Western Hemisphere, two officials familiar with the move said.

The notification was sent to congressional committees late last week, according to the officials, who said the closures are intended to reduce costs and streamline parts of the overseas network.

Congress Notified Of Planned Shutdowns

A separate official familiar with the plan said the missions earmarked for closure involve comparatively small staffing levels compared with other posts. The official described the move as an efficiency measure and a cost-cutting step.

The State Department did not confirm the details publicly when asked about the planned closures. In a written response to ABC News, a spokesperson said the department remains focused on meeting its statutory notification obligations.

Missions Listed For Closure

The officials said the department intends to close the US embassy in Grenada, a Caribbean island nation. They also said it plans to shut consulates in Nagoya, Japan, and Medan, Indonesia.

In addition, the State Department plans to close the American Presence Post in Winnipeg, Canada, and an embassy branch office in Douala, Cameroon, the officials said.

The notifications provided to Congress included those specific locations, they added.

Rubio-Led Cost-Cutting Initiative

The decision forms part of a wider Trump administration cost-reduction initiative led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Rubio had previously said he would “right size” the diplomatic footprint as a way to roll back what he characterised as decades of over-expansion and administrative growth at the department.

The officials said the planned closures are part of that effort to adjust the scale of the overseas presence.

State Department Says Network Must Stay Effective

The State Department said it is committed to complying with the procedures Congress requires for closing overseas posts. The spokesperson said the department had nothing further to report at the time of the request.

Critics of the proposal said the closures could weaken US influence abroad and potentially create room for rival countries to expand their reach, according to the article.

At the same time, the State Department said it wants its diplomatic network to remain both effective and efficient while delivering results for Americans, and stated it was focused on meeting notification requirements before any changes are carried out.

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5 August 2026

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