Plan Calls For Closing Dozens Of Embassies, Consulates

Politico reports:

The proposal for fiscal 2026 would allocate $28.4 billion to State and USAID, down from $54.4 billion in the enacted fiscal 2025 budget. That includes cuts demanded by the White House Office of Management and Budget. The proposal would eliminate or substantially cut numerous programs, including ones that promote democracy, support educational and cultural exchanges, fight drug trafficking and assist U.N. peacekeeping efforts.

Spending on global health programs could be cut by some 50 percent, while funding to deal with migration and refugees would be cut in half and only used for emergency purposes, the document shows. The administration is considering shuttering up to three dozen U.S. diplomatic outposts around the world. This includes U.S. embassies in Southern Africa, consulates in Europe, and several embassies in Oceania, the officials said.

Read the full article.

Outrageously bad decision. A giant gift to the Communist Party of China.

I hope Congress finally begins to play its role as outlined in the Constitution and push back on this:

Trump weighs slashing State Department budget by nearly half https://t.co/Ya5me06MIC via @politico

— Michael McFaul (@McFaul) April 14, 2025