U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast (R-FL) on June 2 launched a legislative push to update and restructure the statutes governing the U.S. Foreign Service, including in the areas of management, recruitment, positions and appointments, promotion and retention, and career development and training.
“For a very long time, Congress has done squat to oversee the State Department, diplomats, and their operations,” Rep. Mast said. “This week the House Foreign Affairs Committee will redo the Foreign Service Act (FSA) for the first time in 46 years.”
The congressman introduced the Foreign Service Modernization Act, H.R. 9086, alongside bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) to modernize the diplomatic personnel system.
“The FSA oversees every diplomat in America’s embassies abroad. There are great diplomats given the opportunity to serve because of merit, and terrible diplomats like the ones who implemented projects like transgender job fairs in Bangladesh or drag shows in Ecuador,” added Rep. Mast. “We are going to make sure the State Department hires the most qualified, not the most woke.”
If enacted, H.R. 9086 would establish several personnel reforms focused on how the State Department recruits and trains diplomats, including measures that would provide ambassadors with increased authority and oversight in carrying out U.S. foreign policy at their posts overseas.
Additionally, the bill would create a pilot program for a Diplomatic Reserve Corps that would surge diplomats to the front lines in response to emergencies and crises abroad, and enhance expeditionary diplomacy in austere posts to advance American interests outside the confines of embassy walls, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Mast’s office.
State Department human resources technology and training also would be aligned under the bill to meet modern national security demands, and H.R. 9086 would increase pathways for military veterans to join the Foreign Service, the summary says.
“Amidst the current and rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape, we must ensure the Foreign Service is mission-focused and equipped to meet that monumental task,” said Rep. Lawler, chairman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee.
The full committee will consider H.R. 9086 as part of a markup this month, the lawmakers said.