HR 5246119th CongressIntroduced

To provide for the political affairs authorities of the Department of State, and for other purposes.

Introduced: Sep 10, 2025

Defense & National Security

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

This bill would reorganize and expand the U.S. Department of State’s political affairs leadership and regional diplomacy structures. It creates a new Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs to oversee regional and bilateral diplomacy, along with several new senior positions (Ambassadors-at-Large and Assistant Secretaries) and a dedicated East Asian and Pacific Affairs Bureau. A key feature is the creation of a Countering the PRC Influence Fund Unit (CPIF Unit) within that East Asia bureau, tasked with designing and overseeing programs aimed at countering Chinese influence. The bill also adds new geographic focus offices (Arctic, Indian Ocean Region) and outlines budget authority for 2026-2027, plus a requirement for congressional notification before any major bureau jurisdiction changes. Notably, the CPIF Unit is set to terminate two years after enactment. In practical terms, the bill would significantly expand State Department leadership, create new regional focal points (including a dedicated Arctic ambassador and an Indian Ocean Region ambassador), designate a new East Asia and Pacific Affairs Bureau with a funding stream focused on countering PRC influence, and add several new Assistant Secretaries to cover Africa, the Near East (Middle East and North Africa), and South and Central Asia. It also increases congressional oversight on bureau reorganizations and ties funding to these new authorities for a defined two-year window.

Key Points

1Creation of an Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs who oversees regional and bilateral diplomacy and coordinates broader foreign policy execution across the Department.
2Establishment of Ambassadors-at-Large for the Arctic and for the Indian Ocean Region, with the Indian Ocean Region ambassador nominated by the President with Senate confirmation no later than April 1, 2026.
3Establishment of a Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, headed by the Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, along with the Countering the PRC Influence Fund Unit (CPIF Unit) within that bureau to design and manage programming countering China’s malign influence.
4Authorization of new Assistant Secretaries (East Asian and Pacific Affairs; African Affairs; Near Eastern Affairs; South and Central Asian Affairs) and corresponding funding for 2026-2027 to support these offices and their programs.
5Congressional notification requirements for changes to regional bureau jurisdiction (15 days before changes, with justification and implications) and a temporary funding/oversight framework (including CPIF Unit termination two years after enactment).

Impact Areas

Primary: U.S. Department of State operations, including leadership, budgeting, and implementation of foreign policy across multiple regions (Arctic, Indian Ocean Region, East Asia and the Pacific, Africa, Near East, and South/Central Asia).Secondary: Interagency coordination (military, intelligence, development, and other federal agencies), Senate confirmation processes for new Ambassadors-at-Large, and congressional budget and oversight (via the appropriation sections and notification requirements).Additional impacts: Enhanced focus on strategic regional diplomacy and a defined, time-limited program (CPIF Unit) aimed at countering China’s influence, which could affect foreign assistance, diplomatic engagement, and international partnerships in the specified regions. The Arctic and Indian Ocean Region programs may shift resources toward energy, security, infrastructure, trade, and environmental priorities within those regions.

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