The United States is closing more than 100 foreign offices under the State Department as part of a restructuring move aligned with the Trump administration’s “America First” policy. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Tuesday that the department will reduce its workforce by 15%, resulting in job losses for many employees.
According to Reuters and the Associated Press, a classified document prepared for the U.S. Congress states that out of 734 global offices, 132 will be closed. An additional 137 may be relocated.
Rubio stated, “The department is currently disorganized and overly burdened with diplomacy. In a competitive global environment, it is difficult to operate missions this way. This restructuring is necessary.”
There is speculation that departments focused on women’s issues, diversity, and inclusion may be among those closed, as these had already faced restrictions after Trump’s return to power. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) was recently shut down, signaling a broader trend of downsizing international missions.
However, human rights offices are not expected to be closed at this stage. Rubio emphasized that the current structure of the State Department is bloated and in urgent need of reform. The new framework will prioritize American interests more clearly in foreign operations.