Anger mounts in Florence as closure looms for US consulate
The Florence Consulate is one of over 100 bureaus and offices targeted for closure under President Donald Trump's sweeping plans to downsize the US State Department to slash costs and improve efficiency.
Besides the Florence Consulate, other consulates slated for closure include Rennes, Lyon, Strasbourg, and Bordeaux in France, as well as Dusseldorf, Leipzig, and Hamburg in Germany.
First announced in late April, plans to overhaul the State Department were formally presented to Congress by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday.
"The reorganisation plan will result in a more agile Department, better equipped to promote America's interests and keep Americans safe across the world," Rubio said in a statement.
The congressional notification sparked anger among Americans in Florence, reigniting concerns that thousands of US residents and visitors in the area may soon be stripped of quick access to essential services including emergency assistance in the event of natural disasters and hospitalisations.
Mary Lokken, a California native who has been living in Florence for over 40 years, told La Repubblica that closing the Florence Consulate means 'depriving us of services that we all use at least once – from the issuance of visas and passports to information on taxes and elections, and even social benefits".
Lindsey Brock, a member of local activist group Good Trouble Firenze, also voiced anger over the planned closure, calling it 'yet another cut to services aimed at American citizens'.
'Foreign residents and tourists will pay the real price," she added.
According to La Repubblica, the Florence Consulate offers support to around four million visitors every year, as well as over 200 businesses operating between Italy and the US.
If it were to close, US nationals in the area would need to travel to one of the country's other consulates in Milan or Naples, or the Rome Embassy to access help.
The planned closure is 'madness,' Maurizio Mancianti, president of the Tuscan American Association, said.
This 'directly affects all American citizens who live or pass through here', as well as 'anyone who needs to travel to or run a business in the United States,' he added.
Plans to close the Florence Consulate were also harshly criticised by Mayor Sara Funaro, who called the move 'reckless' given 'the many Americans who study and work' in the city.
Funaro said she intended to ask Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and US authorities for clarification on the matter.
'Florence cannot be written off like this," she said.
Following last week's developments, the Florence Consulate said it would 'continue carrying out its usual activities' pending official communications from the US.
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The Florence Consulate is one of over 100 bureaus and offices targeted for closure under President Donald Trump's sweeping plans to downsize the US State Department to slash costs and improve efficiency. Besides the Florence Consulate, other consulates slated for closure include Rennes, Lyon, Strasbourg, and Bordeaux in France, as well as Dusseldorf, Leipzig, and Hamburg in Germany. First announced in late April, plans to overhaul the State Department were formally presented to Congress by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday. "The reorganisation plan will result in a more agile Department, better equipped to promote America's interests and keep Americans safe across the world," Rubio said in a statement. The congressional notification sparked anger among Americans in Florence, reigniting concerns that thousands of US residents and visitors in the area may soon be stripped of quick access to essential services including emergency assistance in the event of natural disasters and hospitalisations. Mary Lokken, a California native who has been living in Florence for over 40 years, told La Repubblica that closing the Florence Consulate means 'depriving us of services that we all use at least once – from the issuance of visas and passports to information on taxes and elections, and even social benefits". Lindsey Brock, a member of local activist group Good Trouble Firenze, also voiced anger over the planned closure, calling it 'yet another cut to services aimed at American citizens'. 'Foreign residents and tourists will pay the real price," she added. According to La Repubblica, the Florence Consulate offers support to around four million visitors every year, as well as over 200 businesses operating between Italy and the US. If it were to close, US nationals in the area would need to travel to one of the country's other consulates in Milan or Naples, or the Rome Embassy to access help. The planned closure is 'madness,' Maurizio Mancianti, president of the Tuscan American Association, said. This 'directly affects all American citizens who live or pass through here', as well as 'anyone who needs to travel to or run a business in the United States,' he added. Plans to close the Florence Consulate were also harshly criticised by Mayor Sara Funaro, who called the move 'reckless' given 'the many Americans who study and work' in the city. Funaro said she intended to ask Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and US authorities for clarification on the matter. 'Florence cannot be written off like this," she said. Following last week's developments, the Florence Consulate said it would 'continue carrying out its usual activities' pending official communications from the US.
