The US state department is preparing to shut down a number of consulates that are mainly in western Europe in the coming months and looking to reduce its workforce globally, multiple US officials said on Thursday.

The state department is also looking into potentially merging a number of its expert bureaus at its headquarters in Washington that are working in areas such as human rights, refugees, global criminal justice, women’s issues and efforts to counter human trafficking, the officials said.

Reuters reported last month that US missions around the world had been asked to look into reducing US and locally employed staff by at least 10% as Donald Trump and his billionaire aide Elon Musk have unleashed an unprecedented cost-cutting effort across the US federal workforce.

  • Drusas
    link
    fedilink
    253 days ago

    This is a big “fuck you” to Americans living abroad.

  • @[email protected]
    link
    fedilink
    153 days ago

    that are working in areas such as human rights, refugees, global criminal justice, women’s issues and efforts to counter human trafficking, the officials said.

    Of course, they’re cutting the stuff that might actually help regular people.

  • @TingoTenga
    link
    93 days ago

    Who needs diplomats when all you want to do is burn bridges?

  • @[email protected]
    link
    fedilink
    4
    edit-2
    3 days ago

    With this regime it kinda feels like they will replace the offices with an EPOS terminal where you can pay for services, but only get a reciept with “HAHAHAHA” printed on it.