To provide for the management authorities of the Department of State.
Sponsored By: Representative Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
In Committee
Summary
Overhauls management at the State Department by creating an Under Secretary for Management and several new Assistant Secretaries and bureaus to modernize consular services, technology, security, asset management, and human resources. It centralizes consular and IT systems, expands diplomatic security authorities, and tightens rules for foreign-mission property and congressional notifications.
Show full summary
The Impact:
- U.S. citizens and travelers: Consolidates consular policy and operations under a new Bureau of Consular Affairs, updates passport and immigrant-visa fee rules and permits surcharges for 2026–2027, and extends special passport hiring authority from 3 to 5 years. It also clarifies interagency data-sharing for fraud detection while prohibiting new categories of data collection or unrelated uses.
- Department workforce and training: Creates new management roles and a reconfigured Foreign Service Institute with four schools to align training with modern diplomatic needs, and moves consular IT under a Chief Information Officer to reduce redundancy and improve cybersecurity.
- Security and foreign-mission oversight: Expands Diplomatic Security authorities and mandatory counterintelligence training for agents at high-risk posts, imposes 60-day and rapid-notification rules for certain foreign-mission property transactions, and requires 45-day notice before closing posts except for emergencies.
*Authorizes appropriations for the new Under Secretary, Assistant Secretaries, and bureaus for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.*
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
10 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 1 costs, 3 mixed.
Broader powers for State agents
The bill would let Department special agents and some Foreign Service staff investigate passport and visa fraud and related crimes. They could seek and execute warrants, serve subpoenas, carry firearms with required approvals, and make some warrantless arrests. They could protect certain people, including a departing Secretary for up to 180 days if a threat exists.
More funding for consular services
For fiscal years 2026 and 2027, the bill would let the Department use passport and immigrant visa surcharges and some Fraud Prevention Account fees to pay consular costs, with U.S. citizen services first in line. It would change fee-basis wording for those years, which could affect how consular fees are set, but not specific amounts. The Secretary could also move some discretionary funds into the Consular and Border Security Programs if needed, with notice to key committees and without using emergency-designated money.
New management and tech offices
This bill would create an Under Secretary for Management and a Bureau of Consular Affairs. It would also set up a Chief Information Officer for Diplomatic Technology and a Bureau of Diplomatic Technology. The Office of Consular Systems and Technology would move under the CIO, with a plan due to Congress in 90 days and the move finished in 180 days. Funding authorized for these offices would be available for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.
More oversight of post closures
This bill would bar spending on closing a U.S. consular or diplomatic post unless Congress gets 45 days’ notice and reprogramming rules are followed. Exceptions would apply for a diplomatic break or a real and present security threat with a travel advisory. When the Department plans to reopen a post, its notice to Congress would need to explain the national security value.
Tighter control of foreign mission property
Foreign missions would need to notify the Department before buying or selling U.S. real estate. The Under Secretary could review for 60 days, block, or set conditions, and risky purchases could be barred if Defense or the FBI flags them. The bill would also add the State Department to certain secure federal leasing rules.
Upgraded training and hiring at State
The Foreign Service Institute would report to the Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and include at least four schools for languages, IT, leadership, and area studies. The bill would also extend Passport Services’ special hiring authority from 3 to 5 years to help staff passport operations.
New fees to use State facilities
If enacted, the Department could charge fees for the diplomatic reception rooms and the Shultz training center. It could also keep money received from Blair House use for Blair House maintenance, but only as Congress allows. Users could face new or higher charges. Collected funds would be credited to Department accounts and spent only if appropriated.
Stronger checks on passport and visa
The bill would let the Bureau of Consular Affairs access other federal records to review passport and visa applications. Use would be limited to checking eligibility, finding fraud, and spotting law-enforcement or security issues. The Department could sign data-sharing agreements and must safeguard the data. It would not allow collection of new kinds of information.
Stronger vetting at high‑risk posts
This bill would expand counterintelligence screening to more posts and include some non‑security staff in critical or designated countries. It would also require specific counterintelligence training for Diplomatic Security agents in CI roles or at posts rated High or Critical for human intelligence threats.
Property exchanges with foreign missions
This bill would let the Department make reciprocal property exchanges with foreign missions and charge surcharges or fees if approved. The Department would need to notify Congress at least 15 days before such deals. Money from later sales would go to the Foreign Service Buildings Fund and be spent only if appropriated.
Free Policy Watch
You just read the policy. Now see what it costs you.
Pick a topic. PRIA runs your household against live legislation and sends you a free personalized readout.
Pick a topic to get started
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
NY • R
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.govTake It Personal
Get Your Personalized Policy View
Take the PRIA Score to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.
Already have an account? Sign in