The United States is considering whether to cut funding for international organisations such as the UN and NATO, US media reported on Tuesday.
The planned budget cuts, which are still in the preparatory stage, are outlined in an internal document from the White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB). They are part of a large-scale cost-saving plan championed by billionaire Elon Musk through his Department of Government Efficiency (Doge).
The Washington Post reports that the budget document for Fiscal 2026 allocates $28.4 billion for the State Department, 48% less than in 2025.Almost every part of the department is expected to face cuts, including the number of diplomats, diplomatic missions worldwide, international aid programmes, and funding for international organisations.
This includes cuts to the operating funds of both NATO and the United Nations.
According to Punchbowl News, the US plans to close 10 embassies and 17 consulates. Embassy closures are planned in Luxembourg, Malta, Eritrea, and South Sudan. Five consulates in France and two in Germany are also expected to shuttered.
The Department of State has declined to comment.
It is unclear whether Secretary of State Marco Rubio has approved the document, dated last week.
A spokesperson for OMB told the Associated Press that “no final decision” has been made.
