US moves a step closer to closing consulates in Germany

Local Germany

2 days ago

First
announced
in late April, plans to overhaul the State Department were formally presented to Congress by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio last week, reigniting fears that thousands of US residents and visitors in the country may soon be stripped of quick access to essential services including emergency assistance in the event of natural disasters and hospitalisations.
According to initial reporting in Politico, consulates slated for closure in Germany – as part of President Donald Trump's sweeping plans to downsize the US State Department, slash costs, and improve efficiency – include Dusseldorf, Leipzig, and Hamburg.
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Trump administration 'plans to axe US consulates in Germany'
If the closures go ahead, US nationals in Germany would need to travel one of the country's other consulates in Frankfurt or Munich or the Embassy in Berlin to access help.
Although it has been reported that staff could also be cut at the consulate offices in Frankfurt and Munich, as well as the Embassy in Berlin.
In a statement, Rubio said that the plan submitted to Congress was the result of thoughtful and deliberative work by senior Department leadership.
'The reorganisation plan will result in a more agile Department, better equipped to promote America's interests and keep Americans safe across the world,' he said.
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A spokesperson for the US Embassy in Berlin previously told The Local: "The State Department continues to assess our global posture to ensure we are best positioned to address modern challenges on behalf of the American people."
The State Department has a workforce of around 75,000 employees, and about two-thirds of these employees are local hires, such as German citizens hired for roles at the US consulates in Germany. These foreign nationals are more likely to be let go than US civil and Foreign Service officers, but workers across the board may be affected.
As reported by The Local in March
, critics suggest the reorganisation could have the opposite effect, reducing vital functions, hindering efforts to boost American influence abroad, and effectively allowing US adversaries to increase their influence around the world.
As well as the plan to close consulates in Germany the US is also reportedly planning to close one in Italy (Florence) and four in France (Rennes, Lyon, Strasbourg and Bordeaux).
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What services do consulates provide?
For US citizens living abroad, consulates are the go-to resource for renewing passports, acquiring birth or death certificates, and accessing federal programs like social security, veterans affairs, and the federal voting assistance program.
Consulate staff also help US citizens who lose their passports, who are the victims of crime, or are suspected of having committed a crime. They can provide emergency financial assistance when necessary, and offer valuable information on finding services in English in Germany - including translators, tax advisors, international schools, and funeral homes.
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How US consulates help American citizens living in Germany
If you're dealing with an issue and you're not sure if your consulate can help, try the
citizen services navigator tool
on the US embassy in Germany website.