The State Department has reportedly notified Congress of plans to close five overseas diplomatic posts in a rare reduction of America’s diplomatic footprint outside a specific geopolitical crisis. The State Department is by no means exempt from the governmentwide cuts. Putting a Price on DiplomacyThe importance of maintaining America’s diplomatic clout abroad was not lost on the previous administration. The State Department later said it had prioritized staffing in Pacific Island countries because a U.S. presence there demonstrated commitment to the region’s security, stability and prosperity. That’s before the Trump administration started hacking away at government spending and reducing State Department staff numbers.