As part of a significant proposal to reduce the United States’ foreign operations, the White House is considering shutting down nearly 30 American embassies worldwide, including the recently established mission in the Maldives.

According to documents obtained by Reuters, the proposal comes as the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) recommends a nearly USD 30 billion reduction in the State Department’s budget for the 2026 fiscal year under the administration of President Donald Trump.

If approved, the budget cuts would represent a near 50 percent slash to the department’s current allocation.

Among the embassies listed for closure is the US Embassy in Maldives, currently operating from a rented office in Hulhumalé.

Despite recent progress, including the allocation of land for a permanent embassy site, the mission faces an uncertain future.

Prior to the opening of a dedicated embassy in the Maldives, US diplomatic affairs for the island nation were handled through the US Embassy in Sri Lanka, and later, via the American Centre in Malé.

Other embassies under review for closure are located in Eritrea, Grenada, Lesotho, Central African Republic, Luxembourg, Republic of the Congo, Gambia, South Sudan, and Malta.

Analysts have raised concerns over the implications of the proposed closures, warning that a diminished US diplomatic footprint could weaken American influence globally, particularly in regions where strategic competition with China is intensifying.

The Sydney-based Lowy Institute notes that such reductions could allow China to further expand its presence in Africa, East Asia, and even Europe, where the US would end up with fewer embassies.