To provide for the authorities of the Secretary of State.
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5244
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- International Affairs
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-18: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 27 - 20.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-15T21:40:18Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This legislation, H.R. 5244, aims to formalize and enhance the organizational structure and authorities of the Secretary of State within the Department of State. It focuses on improving internal coordination, decision-making, and U.S. representation in international bodies like the United Nations (UN), while authorizing specific offices, positions, and funding to support foreign policy goals.
Key Provisions
- Definitions: Establishes terms such as "appropriate congressional committees" (referring to key House and Senate panels on foreign affairs), "Department" (Department of State), "Deputy Secretary," and "Secretary" (Secretary of State).
- Office of the Secretary (Subtitle A): Authorizes the Secretary to create positions like Chief of Staff, Counselor, and Executive Secretariat to aid in situational awareness and management decisions.
- United Nations Representation (Subtitle B):
- U.S. Ambassador to the UN (Sec. 111): Requires presidential appointment (with Senate confirmation) of an ambassador with ambassadorial rank, who reports to the Secretary and President. Responsibilities include countering "malign influence operations" (defined as coordinated efforts by UN member states to sway UN entities against the UN Charter's principles of impartiality), holding accountable UN employees or states involved, opposing leadership roles for nationals from such states, supporting Taiwan's participation in UN entities, and aligning with presidential directives.
- U.S. Mission to the UN (Sec. 112): Authorizes the mission's structure, including additional representatives for UN organs (especially on nuclear energy and disarmament). The ambassador serves as chief of mission, ensuring coordination with the Department and adherence to presidential instructions on voting and activities.
- Bureaus, Offices, and Entities (Subtitle C):
- Authorizes bureaus and offices reporting to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary, including:
- Bureau of Legislative Affairs (Sec. 122): Led by an Assistant Secretary; handles congressional engagement, legislation development, and reporting (with exceptions for specific transmissions like treaties).
- Bureau of Intelligence and Research (Sec. 123): Led by an Assistant Secretary; oversees intelligence coordination with the U.S. intelligence community (as defined in the National Security Act), collection needs, and information sharing.
- Office of Policy Planning (Sec. 124): Led by a Director; provides independent policy analysis, long-term planning, and alignment of the Secretary's priorities across the Department and interagency (government-wide) efforts.
- Office of the Legal Adviser (Sec. 125): Led by the Legal Adviser; advises on legal issues in foreign policy, participates in international negotiations, and supports domestic litigation involving the Department.
- Office of Protocol (Sec. 126): Led by the Chief of Protocol; manages diplomatic etiquette, ceremonies, and guidance for high-level officials.
- Office of the Spokesperson (Sec. 127): Led by the Spokesperson; directs domestic communications, press relations, and media support for the Secretary.
- Red Team Capability (Sec. 128): Requires a team for crisis response planning, convened by policy or crisis units, with reports submitted within 21 days of meetings.
- Allows the Secretary to delegate coordination to the Deputy Secretary.
- Funding (Subtitle D): Authorizes appropriations for the Department in fiscal years 2026 and 2027, with allocations for the UN mission and specified offices. Requires a report on "unfunded priorities" (essential programs not covered in the President's budget, prioritized by urgency) within 10 days of budget submission to Congress.
- Codification (Subtitle E): Directs the Office of Law Revision Counsel to classify these provisions in Title 22 of the U.S. Code (governing foreign relations) and preserve history of prior laws.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Codifies and expands authorities for longstanding but potentially informal Department structures (e.g., formalizing the U.S. Mission to the UN and specific bureaus like Intelligence and Research).
- Introduces new emphases, such as explicit requirements to counter malign influence in the UN (not previously detailed in statute), support Taiwan's UN participation, and establish a "Red Team" for crisis planning.
- Enhances oversight and reporting, including mandatory collaboration between the UN ambassador and Secretary, and detailed congressional reporting on legislative and unfunded priorities, which may streamline or formalize existing practices under laws like the Foreign Service Act.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Strengthens the Department of State's internal efficiency and interagency coordination (e.g., with intelligence and congressional bodies), potentially reducing silos and improving foreign policy implementation. Could increase administrative burdens through new reporting requirements.
- Citizens: Minimal direct impact, but indirectly supports U.S. foreign policy by enhancing diplomatic tools, which may influence national security and international stability affecting U.S. interests.
- International Relations: Bolsters U.S. influence in the UN by mandating opposition to adversarial actions and support for allies like Taiwan, potentially straining relations with countries engaging in "malign influence" (e.g., those using diplomacy or other means to sway UN decisions). Promotes a "coherent and unified" U.S. strategy, which could improve multilateral engagement but risk perceptions of U.S. dominance.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Department of State and Officials: Secretary, Deputy Secretary, ambassadors, bureau heads, and staff, who gain formalized roles and resources.
- Congress: Foreign Affairs/Foreign Relations Committees and Appropriations Committees, involved in oversight, confirmations, and funding decisions.
- U.S. Intelligence Community: Enhanced coordination for intelligence sharing and policy support.
- UN and International Actors: UN member states, employees, and entities (e.g., Security Council), facing U.S. accountability measures; Taiwan, benefiting from participation support.
- Broader U.S. Government: President (appointment powers), interagency partners, and the Office of Law Revision Counsel (for codification).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Formalizes advisory and operational roles, ensuring consistency in foreign policy execution; definitions like "malign influence operations" provide a statutory basis for U.S. actions in international forums, potentially aiding legal challenges or negotiations.
- Constitutional: Reinforces Senate's advice-and-consent role for key appointments (e.g., UN ambassador, deputy assistant secretaries), aligning with Article II powers; emphasizes presidential direction over diplomatic voting, respecting separation of powers.
- Political: Highlights priorities like countering undue foreign influence and Taiwan support, which could polarize debates (e.g., on China policy); promotes transparency via reports, fostering bipartisan oversight but risking partisan disputes over funding or priorities. No overt bias, but provisions may signal a strategic focus on impartiality and U.S. leadership in global institutions.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
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Recent Actions
- 2025-09-18: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 27 - 20.
- 2025-09-18: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 2025-09-17: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 2025-09-10: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- 2025-09-10: Introduced in House
- 2025-09-10: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- To provide for the authorities of the Secretary of State. — issued 2025-09-10 — PDF (23 pages)