Foreign Service Modernization Act
Sponsored By: Representative Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
Introduced
Summary
Modernize the Foreign Service. This bill would reform how the State Department recruits, trains, and secures its overseas missions by focusing on workforce pipelines, cybersecurity, and surge capacity.
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- Foreign Service members and leaders: New mandatory training includes crisis leadership and annual cybersecurity and AI governance for every Service member, and a promotion rule ties open promotion windows to at least one joint duty assignment after 5 years.
- Veterans, fellows, and applicants: Creates a Veterans and Foreign Service Pathway pilot and strengthens hiring commitments and conversion support for fellowship participants. A Diplomatic Reserve Corps pilot must recruit at least 250 members in year one and may add up to 250 annually for the next 3 years.
- Missions, security, and technology: Establishes a mission cybersecurity and technology governance framework, clarifies Regional Security Officers as principal security leads, requires supply chain and incident-response standards, and directs a Tiger Team to submit a plan within 12 months with membership notice in 90 days.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
8 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Critical languages and service duty
If enacted, the bill would require the Secretary to publish a list of critical foreign languages within 180 days and update it at least every three years. If you start full-time, Department-funded language training after that 180-day date and the training lasts more than six months, you would be required to serve at least three consecutive tours in language-required positions. The Secretary may grant limited waivers for medical reasons, higher priority assignments, or no vacancy but must certify waivers to the congressional committees.
Fellowship hiring and protections
If enacted, the bill would create a Diplomatic Security Fellowship Program to recruit, train, and mentor candidates for Diplomatic Security roles. The Department would also be required to consider fellowship completers for appointment within 12 months, subject to security, medical, and suitability checks. If consideration is delayed, the individual must be told within 15 days and congressional committees within 30 days.
Hiring fairness and career review
If enacted, the bill would require written documentation and recusal rules for recruitment referrals and selection boards. It would broaden Board of Examiners criteria to count academic study and diplomacy experience. The Secretary would convene an independent commission to review career tracks and submit recommendations within one year. The Director General would also serve concurrently as Assistant Secretary for Human Resources.
Reserve corps and surge planning
If enacted, the bill would create a Diplomatic Reserve Corps Pilot as a surge diplomatic workforce and require a Tiger Team to plan expeditionary diplomacy improvements. The Pilot must recruit at least 250 members in year one and may add up to 250 additional members annually; no more than 30 percent may be appointed at the two highest rank-equivalents. The Tiger Team must report to Congress and the Pilot would end after three years unless reauthorized.
Veteran hiring and TAP help
If enacted, the bill would create a Veterans and Foreign Service Pathway Program for veterans and members within one year of separation. The Department would add recruitment help inside military Transition Assistance Programs, offer preparatory resources, mentorship, and targeted outreach, and expand internship eligibility to half-time students. A streamlined accession pilot for designated positions would terminate five years after enactment.
Tax residency protection for members
If enacted, the bill would say a Foreign Service member would neither lose nor gain U.S. tax residence just because they are absent from or present in a tax jurisdiction while serving under official orders. It would also say a member's personal property, including cars, would not be treated as located in the assigned place for taxation, licenses, fees, or excises when those charges are paid in the member's State of domicile or residence.
Training and promotion rules
If enacted, the bill would require the Department to set up a structured training framework tied to career progression. Training would include cybersecurity, crisis leadership, economic statecraft, and mission-specific courses. Completion and Director General certification would be required before some promotions and leadership assignments. Beginning five years after enactment, promotion to the Senior Foreign Service would normally require at least one 12-month joint duty assignment.
Mission security and oversight rules
If enacted, the bill would clarify that Diplomatic Security agents serving as Regional Security Officers are the lead security and law enforcement representatives to chiefs of mission. Chiefs assigned to posts with defense cooperation programs would have to complete a training course before or soon after arrival. The Overseas Briefing Center must give congressional committees timely access to briefing materials when requested.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
NY • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Mast, Brian J. [R-FL-21]
FL • R
Sponsored 6/2/2026
Rep. Mackenzie, Ryan [R-PA-7]
PA • R
Sponsored 6/8/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov