The United States first established diplomatic relations with Austria in 1838 during the time of the Austrian Empire.

After 11 November 1918, these were no longer representatives of the Emperor, but of the republican state of German-Austria or the Austrian Republic, who were now called ambassadors.

On 13 March 1938, the Austrian representation in Washington, D.C. was closed due to the "Anschluss" to Nazi Germany and only reopened one and a half years after the re-establishment of the Republic of Austria following the end of World War II.

[1] The fact that diplomatic relations were not resumed until November 1946 reflects the fact that the United States, as the occupying power in Austria, had a high-ranking presence in Vienna since 1 September 1945, and the four occupying powers considered themselves the supreme authority in Austria.

It was not until the summer of 1946 that the government of Leopold Figl was given more political leeway.