Protecting America’s Diplomatic Workforce Act
Sponsored By: Representative Bera, Ami [D-CA-6]
Introduced
Summary
Limits on mass layoffs in the U.S. diplomatic workforce. This bill would cap large reductions in force, require advance notices and congressional briefings, and tighten how Foreign Service RIFs are decided.
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- Foreign Service officers and covered employees would face a 50-employee cap per six months on separations, making large-scale layoffs harder.
- Procedural fairness: RIF retention would be decided mainly by prior selection board rankings, with tenure, language skills, and military preference considered. Employees would get at least 120 days' advance notice of separation and access to grievance review by the Foreign Service Grievances Board with powers like the Merit Systems Protection Board.
- Agency leaders would have to submit detailed justifications and brief the Senate Foreign Relations and House Foreign Affairs Committees before exceeding the cap. Agencies must also give 30 days' written notice and briefings before significant changes to the Foreign Affairs Manual.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Limits on mass layoffs at diplomatic agencies
This bill would prohibit covered agencies from separating more than 50 employees in any six‑month period by a reduction in force. An agency could exceed 50 only after it sends a detailed explanation to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee and briefs those committees at least 20 days before giving notice to affected employees. The bill would also require a 60‑day notice period for reductions in force under 5 U.S.C. 3502 at covered agencies. The bill names which organizations are "covered agencies," such as the Department of State, USAID, the Peace Corps, and others.
New RIF rules for Foreign Service
This bill would change how Foreign Service reductions in force work. It would allow the Secretary to separate career and career‑candidate Foreign Service members for reasons like reorganization or shortage of funds. If affected, members would generally get 120 days advance notice of separation, and never less than 60 days. Retention decisions would rely mainly on prior selection‑board rankings while also considering tenure, language skills, and military preference. The bill would give the Foreign Service Grievances Board the same authority as the Merit Systems Protection Board for RIF appeals and extend civil‑service transfer‑of‑function protections to Foreign Service members.
Notice before major State manual changes
This bill would require the Secretary of State to give written notice to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee at least 30 days before any significant change to the Foreign Affairs Manual takes effect. The Secretary would also have to brief those committees about the proposed changes before they are implemented.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Bera, Ami [D-CA-6]
CA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Olszewski, Johnny [D-MD-2]
MD • D
Sponsored 7/16/2026
Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large]
DE • D
Sponsored 7/16/2026
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 7/16/2026
Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16]
TX • D
Sponsored 7/16/2026
Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5]
IL • D
Sponsored 7/16/2026
Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/20/2026
Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]
VA • D
Sponsored 8/6/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov