The Trump administration is considering a sweeping reorganization of the U.S. State Department that could result in the closure of nearly 30 U.S. embassies and consulates abroad, according to internal documents obtained by CNN and other outlets. While not yet finalized, the proposals would mark one of the most significant rollbacks of U.S. diplomatic presence in modern history — with potentially serious consequences for immigrants, visa holders, and U.S. citizens living overseas.
What’s Being Proposed?
The internal State Department document recommends closing 10 embassies and 17 consulates, including posts in France, Germany, South Korea, the UK, and across Africa and the Caribbean. The closures would be part of a larger plan to “resize” and restructure the department, reducing staffing, shrinking the budget, and consolidating diplomatic functions across fewer locations.
Other recommendations include:
- Eliminating the Bureau of African Affairs and replacing it with a smaller office focused on limited priorities like counterterrorism and resource extraction.
- Ending the foreign service exam and shifting hiring to favor those aligned with the president’s foreign policy.
- Cutting back on refugee, climate, and human rights offices.
- Drastically scaling back or ending diversity fellowship programs like the Pickering and Rangel fellowships.
- Slashing the department’s budget by nearly 50% and offering buyouts to staff.
How Would This Impact Visa and Green Card Applicants?
Longer wait times and more travel: U.S. embassies and consulates are the primary locations where individuals apply for immigrant and nonimmigrant visas. If embassies close, applicants may be forced to travel to a neighboring country to attend visa interviews or receive consular services. This could mean significant delays, added travel expenses, and increased stress — especially for people in regions already underserved by U.S. missions.
Fewer appointments and increased backlogs: Reduced staffing and the consolidation of services could lead to fewer available visa appointments, longer processing times, and limited consular support. This would especially affect family-based immigration, fiancé visas, student visas, and employment-based categories that require in-person interviews abroad.
Limited support for emergencies: U.S. citizens and green card holders traveling or living abroad rely on embassies for help with lost passports, medical emergencies, arrests, or evacuations. Fewer outposts could weaken the safety net for Americans overseas and complicate assistance in crisis situations.
What About Naturalization and Citizenship Services?
While U.S. citizenship applications (naturalization) are primarily handled within the U.S., embassies and consulates play an important role for:
- Children born abroad to U.S. citizens (Consular Reports of Birth Abroad)
- Passport renewals and replacements
- Document notarization
- Assistance with overseas voting and taxes
Closing consulates would make it harder for U.S. citizens abroad to access these services — especially in remote regions.
What Happens Next?
At this point, the proposed closures and restructuring are still under review and have not been officially adopted. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has not confirmed the plan, calling the reports “fake news” in a brief social media post. The White House has also distanced itself from the proposals, though the draft executive order reportedly calls for changes to take effect by October 1.
Many of the proposed changes — including embassy closures and staff layoffs — would require congressional approval and could face legal challenges. Lawmakers from both parties are already voicing concern, saying the moves could undermine U.S. diplomacy and national security.
Bottom Line
If implemented, the proposed cuts would significantly limit access to U.S. consular services around the world. Anyone currently planning to apply for a visa, green card, or U.S. citizenship services abroad should monitor developments closely — and consider acting sooner rather than later, in case consular access becomes more restricted in the near future.