To provide for the management authorities of the Department of State.

Bill Number: H.R. 5245
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: 46 - 0.
Last Updated: 2025-12-15T21:43:06Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

This bill (H.R. 5245) aims to reorganize and clarify the management structure of the U.S. Department of State (often called the State Department). It establishes new leadership roles, bureaus, and responsibilities to improve efficiency in areas like administration, technology, consular services (which handle passports, visas, and citizen protection abroad), security, assets, and human resources. The goal is to support U.S. foreign policy by streamlining operations and ensuring better coordination across the department.

Key Provisions

The bill is divided into definitions and Title II (Management), with subtitles focusing on specific areas:

Under Secretary for Management (Subtitle A):
Establishes an Under Secretary responsible for overall department management, including acquisitions, human resources, health programs, IT systems, facilities, security, and consular affairs.
Requires protection and management of historic furnishings in the department's Diplomatic Reception Rooms (e.g., in the Harry S. Truman Federal Building), including rules for selling, trading, or lending items with congressional and expert input.
Creates a Chief Medical Officer to lead the Office of Medical Services for clinical and mental health programs.
Authorizes funding for fiscal years (FY) 2026 and 2027.

Administration (Subtitle B):
Authorizes an Assistant Secretary for Administration to oversee logistics, safety, emergency planning, publishing, language support, education for dependents abroad, privacy, and records.
Establishes a Bureau of Administration, headed by the Assistant Secretary, with possible directorates for global operations and shared services.
Creates an Office of the Historian within the bureau.
Authorizes funding for FY 2026-2027.

Diplomatic Technology (Subtitle C):
Authorizes a Chief Information Officer for Diplomatic Technology to manage IT, cybersecurity, and digital infrastructure.
Establishes a Bureau of Diplomatic Technology, headed by the Chief Information Officer.
Authorizes funding for FY 2026-2027.

Consular Affairs (Subtitle D):
Defines responsibilities for the Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs, including visa/passport processing, citizen protection abroad, and fraud prevention.
Establishes a Bureau of Consular Affairs, headed by the Assistant Secretary.
Restricts funding for closing U.S. consular or diplomatic posts abroad without 45-day congressional notice and reprogramming procedures (with exceptions for security threats or broken relations).
Allows use of consular fees (e.g., passport and visa surcharges) for services, prioritizes U.S. citizen needs, and requires reporting on expenditures.
Permits transfers of funds to sustain operations and use of fraud detection fees for consular costs.
Extends special hiring authority for passport services from 3 to 5 years.
Authorizes access to other federal agencies' data for visa/passport checks (with privacy safeguards).
Requires transferring the Office of Consular Systems and Technology to the Bureau of Diplomatic Technology within 180 days, with a transition plan.
Authorizes funding for FY 2026-2027.

Diplomatic Security (Subtitle E):
Authorizes an Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security to manage protection, investigations, training, and emergency planning.
Establishes a Bureau of Diplomatic Security, headed by the Assistant Secretary.
Expands the role of Regional Security Officers as lead security representatives at overseas missions.
Broadens special agents' powers to investigate fraud, protect officials, carry firearms (with Attorney General approval), and make arrests, subject to interagency agreements.
Modifies notification for reopening embassies to include national security details.
Mandates counterintelligence training for certain agents at high-risk posts.
Expands a personnel security program to more countries and staff.
Authorizes funding for FY 2026-2027.

Asset Management (Subtitle F):
Authorizes an Assistant Secretary for Asset Management for real property, facilities, and foreign missions' assets in the U.S.
Establishes a Bureau of Asset Management with directorates for overseas operations, foreign missions, and domestic services.
Requires foreign missions to notify the department before buying/selling U.S. property; allows divestiture if it harms U.S. interests or reciprocity.
Handles abandoned foreign mission property.
Coordinates with Defense and FBI to block property acquisitions by certain countries (e.g., those supporting terrorism) that could aid spying.
Exempts the State Department from some federal leasing rules; removes a reporting requirement for non-standard building designs.
Authorizes fees for using Diplomatic Reception Rooms and Blair House (official guest residence), with funds for maintenance.
Allows providing benefits to foreign missions on reciprocal terms, including fees or waivers.
Authorizes funding for FY 2026-2027.

Human Resources (Subtitle G):
Authorizes an Assistant Secretary for Human Resources for workforce management, training, benefits, and assignments.
Establishes a Bureau of Human Resources, headed by the Assistant Secretary.
Updates the Foreign Service Institute (training arm) with a direct reporting line, four schools (professional studies, leadership, IT, languages), and fee authority for its National Foreign Affairs Training Center.
Authorizes funding for FY 2026-2027.

U.S. Code Classification (Subtitle H):
Directs the Office of Law Revision Counsel to classify the bill's sections into Title 22 of the U.S. Code (foreign relations and intercourse).

Significant Changes to Existing Law

New Structures: Creates or formalizes several positions (e.g., Chief Information Officer for Diplomatic Technology, Assistant Secretaries for Administration, Asset Management, Human Resources) and bureaus, integrating functions like consular IT under broader department oversight.
Consular and Security Expansions: Extends hiring for passports; transfers consular tech office; broadens special agents' investigative and protective powers (e.g., arrests, firearms); mandates counterintelligence training; restricts post closures and foreign property deals.
Funding and Fees: Allows broader use of fees/surcharges for operations (e.g., fraud fees for consular services); designates some as emergency funding; extends fee uses through FY 2027.
Notifications and Oversight: Adds 45-day notice for post closures; requires security details for reopenings; expands interagency data access with privacy rules.
Asset Rules: Strengthens controls on foreign missions' U.S. property (e.g., 60-day review, divestiture for security reasons); exempts State from certain leasing laws; enables reciprocal property exchanges.
Training Updates: Reorganizes Foreign Service Institute schools and reporting; expands security programs to non-security staff in more countries.

Potential Impacts

Government Agencies: Enhances State Department's internal efficiency through clearer roles and integrated bureaus, potentially reducing redundancies in IT, HR, and facilities. Increases coordination with agencies like Justice, Defense, and FBI for security and data sharing, but adds reporting burdens to Congress.
Citizens: Improves consular services (e.g., faster passports/visas via better funding and tech); extends hiring to handle demand; strengthens citizen protection abroad through security enhancements. Fees may affect costs, but surcharges prioritize U.S. services.
International Relations: Bolsters diplomatic security and asset management, potentially deterring threats at posts; reciprocal rules for foreign missions could strain ties with adversarial countries (e.g., those listed for terrorism support) by limiting property access, but facilitate smoother operations for allies.

Main Stakeholders Affected

Department of State: Primary beneficiary/impacted entity; personnel in management, consular, security, and HR roles face reorganization and new duties.
Congressional Committees: Foreign Affairs (House) and Foreign Relations (Senate) gain notification and oversight roles on closures, funding, and property deals.
U.S. Citizens: Travelers and expatriates relying on passports, visas, and emergency aid abroad.
Foreign Governments/Missions: Subject to stricter U.S. property rules and potential divestitures, affecting diplomatic presence.
Other Federal Agencies: Involved in interagency agreements (e.g., FBI, Defense for security; Treasury for finances).

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: Expands law enforcement powers for State special agents (e.g., arrests, warrants) under Attorney General oversight, balancing with privacy protections to avoid overreach. Aligns with existing laws like the Foreign Service Act and Omnibus Diplomatic Security Act, but introduces emergency funding designations that could bypass some budget caps.
Constitutional: Reinforces congressional oversight via notifications and reprogramming rules, upholding separation of powers; property controls on foreign missions support national security under Article I (commerce/foreign affairs clauses) without infringing on diplomatic immunities.
Political: Streamlines bureaucracy to address criticisms of inefficiency, potentially aiding bipartisan support for foreign policy execution. Security expansions respond to global threats (e.g., espionage), but restrictions on foreign property could spark diplomatic tensions with listed countries, influencing U.S. alliances and trade.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]

Recent Actions

2025-09-18: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 46 - 0.
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 Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
2025-09-10: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
2025-09-10: Introduced in House
2025-09-10: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

To provide for the management authorities of the Department of State. — issued 2025-09-10 — PDF (48 pages)