Faith Nyasuguta
Claims that the United States planned to shut down several embassies across Africa have been dismissed following a sweeping announcement by U.S. Secretary of State, Senator Marco Rubio. In a bold move to overhaul the State Department, Rubio revealed a comprehensive reform strategy aimed at streamlining diplomatic operations and modernizing the department’s global reach, with a particular focus on key regions like Africa.
Rubio made the announcement on Tuesday, stating that the reforms are meant to strengthen, not weaken, America’s presence abroad. “Today is the day,” he wrote on X. “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.”
Contrary to a recently leaked memo suggesting that 10 embassies and 17 consulates across Africa were slated for closure, Rubio’s plan does not include shutting down any overseas diplomatic missions. The memo had sparked concern among diplomats, international partners, and policy analysts, especially following earlier moves to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
A senior State Department official acknowledged the department’s current structure as “bloated,” saying that inefficiencies have negatively impacted foreign policy and the department’s relevance. The official added that the goal of the restructuring is to realign the department with the administration’s priorities and improve operational efficiency across the board.
The reform’s first phase includes the elimination of 132 domestic offices and the reduction of approximately 700 positions based in Washington, D.C. Several offices focused on war crimes and global conflict will also be closed, according to internal documents obtained by CNN.
Despite these changes, an internal FAQ memo clarified that “no embassy, consulate, or overseas post closures have been made at this time.” Instead, the reforms will focus on downsizing and consolidating domestic operations. A fact sheet revealed that Under Secretaries are required to submit staffing reduction plans by 15 percent for domestic offices, as part of President Trump’s broader Workforce Optimization Initiative.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau outlined in a staff memo that department leadership is expected to present restructuring strategies within 30 days, with full implementation by July 1. The number of offices at State Department headquarters will be reduced from 734 to 602, a 22 percent cut. Additionally, 137 offices will be relocated within the department to eliminate redundancies.
Rubio’s initiative is being seen as a significant attempt to modernize the U.S. foreign service without compromising its diplomatic footprint abroad.
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