To provide for the management authorities of the Department of State.
Legislative Progress
IntroducedMr. Lawler introduced the following bill; which was referred to …
Summary
What This Bill Does
This bill reorganizes and codifies the management structure of the Department of State, establishing six bureaus under the Under Secretary for Management: Administration, Diplomatic Technology, Consular Affairs, Diplomatic Security, Asset Management, and Human Resources. It authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 and strengthens authorities related to diplomatic security, consular operations, and foreign mission property oversight.
Who Benefits and How
- Department of State employees and leadership: Gain clearer organizational structure, defined responsibilities, and continued funding authorization
- Government IT and security contractors: Benefit from expanded Bureau of Diplomatic Technology and cybersecurity programs, creating contract opportunities
- Diplomatic Security special agents: Receive expanded law enforcement authorities including arrest powers, search warrants, and protective service responsibilities
- US citizens abroad: May benefit from improved consular services through expanded fee flexibility and inter-agency data sharing for passport/visa processing
Who Bears the Burden and How
- Foreign missions from Communist countries and state sponsors of terrorism: Face new PROHIBITIONS on acquiring US real property that could enhance intelligence capabilities against the US
- All foreign missions in the US: Must notify the State Department 60 days before acquiring or selling property and comply with review procedures
- Other federal agencies with overseas personnel: Must follow direction from State Department Regional Security Officers at overseas posts
Key Provisions
- Establishes the Chief Information Officer for Diplomatic Technology and consolidates IT systems under a new Bureau of Diplomatic Technology
- Grants Diplomatic Security special agents broad law enforcement powers including investigating passport/visa fraud, human trafficking, and authority to carry firearms and make arrests
- Prohibits foreign missions from "covered foreign countries" (Communist and terrorism-sponsoring states) from acquiring US real property that could improve their intelligence capabilities
- Extends special hiring authority for passport services from 3 years to 5 years
- Mandates counter-intelligence training for Diplomatic Security agents at high-threat posts
- Requires 45-day congressional notification before closing diplomatic posts abroad
Evidence Chain:
This summary is derived from the structured analysis below. See "Detailed Analysis" for per-title beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
Primary Purpose
Establishes the organizational structure and management authorities of the Department of State, codifying bureau structures, defining responsibilities of key officials, and authorizing appropriations for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.
Policy Domains
Legislative Strategy
"Codify and reorganize State Department management structure, consolidate IT systems under a single CIO, strengthen diplomatic security authorities, and provide fee flexibility for consular services"
Likely Beneficiaries
- Department of State officials and employees (clearer organizational structure)
- Diplomatic Security special agents (expanded law enforcement authorities)
- Consular services operations (funding flexibility and hiring authority extension)
- Government IT contractors (Bureau of Diplomatic Technology consolidation)
Likely Burden Bearers
- Foreign missions in the US (new property acquisition restrictions for covered countries)
- Foreign missions from Communist and state sponsor of terrorism countries (real property acquisition prohibited)
- Office of Consular Systems and Technology staff (organizational transfer)
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of State
- "the_department"
- → Department of State
- "appropriate_congressional_committees"
- → House Committee on Foreign Affairs and Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of State
- "the_under_secretary"
- → Under Secretary of State for Management
- "chief_medical_officer"
- → Chief Medical Officer
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of State
- "assistant_secretary"
- → Assistant Secretary for Administration
- "the_under_secretary"
- → Under Secretary for Management
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of State
- "the_under_secretary"
- → Under Secretary for Management
- "chief_information_officer"
- → Chief Information Officer for Diplomatic Technology
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of State
- "assistant_secretary"
- → Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs
- "the_under_secretary"
- → Under Secretary for Management
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of State
- "assistant_secretary"
- → Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security
- "the_under_secretary"
- → Under Secretary for Management
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of State
- "assistant_secretary"
- → Assistant Secretary for Asset Management
- "the_under_secretary"
- → Under Secretary for Management
- "director_fsi"
- → Director of the Foreign Service Institute
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of State
- "assistant_secretary"
- → Assistant Secretary for Human Resources
- "the_under_secretary"
- → Under Secretary for Management
Key Definitions
Terms defined in this bill
The Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate
Adjudication and issuance of visas; notarial and legalization functions; passport application adjudication; nationality adjudication; citizenship documentation issuance; protection and welfare of US citizens abroad
The Department of State
The Secretary of State
Any Communist country listed in section 620(f) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961; any country designated as state sponsor of terrorism; or any other country engaged in intelligence activities adverse to US national security interests
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology