# 119-hr-8987: Foreign Service Workforce Retention Act

119-hr-8987, Foreign Service Workforce Retention Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Olszewski, Johnny [D-MD-2] (D-MD); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-06-25).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8987
- As of: 2026-06-25
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-8987
- Congress: 119
- Title: Foreign Service Workforce Retention Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-05-21
- Sponsor: Rep. Olszewski, Johnny [D-MD-2] (D-MD)
- Cosponsors: 2
- Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-06-25

## Summary

**Expands recall and reappointment for retired and separated Foreign Service career members.** This bill would let the Secretary recall former career members and create a time-limited path for them to rejoin the Foreign Service. - Former career members: Creates a reappointment process for people who retired or separated and seek to return. Members approved for reappointment must be reappointed no later than 180 days and placed into the next assignment application cycle with full standing. - Foreign Service staffing: Broadens who can be recalled so departments can reuse experienced personnel and ease retention of career officers. - Congressional oversight: Would require the Secretary to report not later than 60 days after enactment and annually to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Reports must list how many career members were recalled and reappointed and each member's grade at separation and at recall or reappointment.

## Cosponsors (2)

- Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6] (D-CA), 2026-05-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7] (D-VA), 2026-06-23T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Recall and Rehire for Former Diplomats: benefit, medium. This bill would let former career Foreign Service members who retired or separated be recalled for five years after that date. The Secretary would be able to use recall and reappointment without regard to section 306 during that five-year window. Members seeking reappointment under this authority w…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-7481: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026
- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act
- 119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act
- 119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-hr-6900: American Affordability Act of 2025
- 119-hr-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-8987 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/8987)

## Related
- [119-hr-7481: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7481)
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7977)
- [119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3151)
- [119-hr-6900: American Affordability Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-6900)
- [119-hr-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-51)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8987 (as of 2026-06-25).