Rumors that the United States planned to shut down multiple embassies across Africa have been refuted following the unveiling of a sweeping State Department reform plan led by Secretary of State, Senator Marco Rubio.
The initiative, presented as a long-overdue restructuring effort, aims to streamline operations and modernize U.S. diplomatic engagement—particularly in strategically important regions like Africa.
In a statement on Tuesday, Rubio emphasized that the changes are designed to enhance, not diminish, the country’s global presence.
“Today is the day. Under @POTUS’ leadership and at my direction, we are reversing decades of bloat and bureaucracy at the State Department. These sweeping changes will empower our talented diplomats to put America and Americans first,” he wrote on X.
According to CNN, the first phase of the overhaul includes the elimination of 132 domestic offices, the reduction of around 700 positions in Washington, D.C., and the closure of several offices focused on war crimes and global conflict.
A senior State Department official described the current structure as “bloated,” arguing that it has had a “deleterious effect on foreign policy and the relevance of the Department.”
The clarification comes after a leaked memo claimed that the Trump administration was planning to shut down 10 embassies and 17 consulates across Africa as part of broader cost-cutting measures.
The memo triggered widespread concern among diplomats and foreign policy experts, particularly following earlier moves to shutter the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
No embassy closures reported
While the sweeping reforms will impact a record number of employees within the U.S. State Department, officials have made it clear that no overseas missions are being shut down at this time.
In response to growing speculation, an internal FAQ memo emphasized that “no embassy, consulate, or overseas post closures have been made at this time.”
A fact sheet obtained by CNN noted that, as part of the reform plan, Under Secretaries are required to submit strategies to reduce staff in domestic offices by 15 percent—aligning with the President’s Workforce Optimization Initiative.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, in a memo to employees, outlined that the department’s leadership expects these restructuring plans within 30 days, with full implementation scheduled for July 1.
The overall goal, a senior official explained, is to align the department’s structure with the administration’s broader objectives and improve efficiency.
According to the internal documents, the number of offices at State Department headquarters will be reduced from 734 to 602—a 22 percent cut.
An additional 137 offices will be relocated within the department to streamline operations and reduce redundancies.
