THE US consulate in Edinburgh could soon be closed down, American media has reported, as Donald Trump continues to scale back spending abroad.
The move could end the US government’s presence in Scotland, which has been in place since 1798.
It would also be a blow for Scottish politicians including First Minister John Swinney and Scottish Secretary Ian Murray who have both been in the US this month promoting links between the two nations.
It also represents a knock-back for Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, who has also been in the US pushing for closer ties with the Trump administration.
The current US consulate in Scotland has been situated on Regent Terrace in Edinburgh for the last 74 years and provides services for American citizens in Scotland while helping to maintain cultural and business ties between the two nations.
But leaked documents obtained by CNN suggest the outpost could fall foul of the US government’s drive to drastically scale back spending, spurred on by far-right adviser Elon Musk.
The American broadcaster reports that the Edinburgh consulate will be among nearly 30 overseas embassies and consulates facing the axe.
The US Government is reportedly planning to slash the US State Department and the US Agency for International Development by nearly half to 28.4 billion US dollars (£21.4 billion) a year.
The Trump administration has proposed closing 17 consulates and 10 embassies, mostly in Europe and Africa, including those in Malta, Luxembourg, South Sudan, and Eritrea.
The plans align with broader goals set out by Musk, who has run the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) in America, and has overseen sweeping cuts in the nation, including to foreign aid.
The legitimacy of the leak was not denied by the US government, but Tammy Bruce, a spokesperson for the US Department of State, said this week: “There is no final plan, final budget, final dynamic – that is up to the White House and the president of the United States.
“What we tend to see is reporting that is early, or wrong, or based on leaked documents from somewhere unknown.
“It would be wise to be cautious before acting on every single element you see leading up to something as important as this budget coming in from President Trump.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Scotland and the United States share strong and lasting social, cultural and economic ties, and we will do all we can to ensure those links remain strong and continue to thrive.”
The US embassy in London has been approached for comment.
