HR 5245119th CongressIntroduced

To provide for the management authorities of the Department of State.

Introduced: Sep 10, 2025

Infrastructure

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

This bill proposes a sweeping reorganization and expansion of management and support authorities inside the Department of State. It creates a centralized leadership and several new or reorganized offices (Under Secretary for Management; Assistant Secretaries for Administration, Consular Affairs, Diplomatic Security, and Asset Management; a Chief Information Officer for Diplomatic Technology; and several Bureaus). The aim is to consolidate and standardize management functions across human resources, IT, facilities, security, consular operations, asset management, and related services, with a strong emphasis on modernization, enterprise-wide governance, and coordination with other federal agencies. Key features include: enhanced oversight of all Department management matters (including consular services and security), transfer and realignment of consular systems to a new Diplomatic Technology framework, tighter real-property controls over foreign missions and U.S. or foreign properties, expanded authority to charge and allocate fees for diplomatic facilities and Blair House, and expanded counterintelligence and security capabilities. The bill also seeks new funding authorities for 2026-2027 to support these management changes and increases in staffing and programmatic scope.

Key Points

1Establishment of a centralized management framework
2- Creates an Under Secretary of State for Management to oversee the Department’s management, including acquisitions, HR, IT, facilities, security, and consular affairs.
3- Establishes an Assistant Secretary for Administration to lead enterprise logistics, knowledge management, acquisition, emergency management, and related functions; and a Bureau of Administration to support global operations and knowledge services.
4- Adds an Office of the Historian and a Chief Medical Officer to supervise corresponding programs.
5Diplomatic technology modernization and governance
6- Establishes a Chief Information Officer for Diplomatic Technology and a Bureau of Diplomatic Technology to oversee IT planning, cybersecurity, governance, operations, and modernization across the Department.
7- Transfers the Office of Consular Systems and Technology from the Bureau of Consular Affairs to the Bureau of Diplomatic Technology, reporting to the CIO to unify consular systems with enterprise IT strategy.
8Consular affairs modernization and post management
9- Reorganizes consular governance under an Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs and creates a Bureau of Consular Affairs.
10- Provides authorities related to consular fees, surcharges, and use of available discretionary funds to support consular services; allows certain transfers and emergency designations for consular operations.
11- Allows coordinated information-sharing with other federal agencies for passport/visa adjudication, with privacy and security safeguards.
12- Sets rules for closing posts abroad, including prior notification, reprogramming procedures, and exceptions for certain severities or threats.
13Asset, property, and foreign missions management
14- Establishes an Assistant Secretary for Asset Management and a Bureau of Asset Management to manage U.S. and foreign properties, including Office of Domestic Operations and emergency services, overseas building operations, and the Office of Foreign Missions.
15- Tightens real-property controls on foreign missions in the United States (notification, approval windows, and potential divestiture), and requires coordination with the Department of Defense and FBI on certain acquisitions that could affect national security.
16- Imposes procedures for abandoned property and post-closure property disposition, including potential remittance of proceeds to the sending state.
17- Introduces rules governing real property acquisitions to prevent concessions that could enhance foreign intelligence or security threats.
18Security and counterintelligence enhancements
19- Creates an Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security and a Bureau of Diplomatic Security to manage protection, investigations, counterintelligence, training, and emergency planning.
20- Expands authorities for DS special agents, including counterintelligence training for agents in certain roles or high-threat posts; broadens counterintelligence personnel-security provisions to include non-security staff.
21- Clarifies roles for Regional Security Officers as principal security and lead law-enforcement representatives at overseas missions.
22Fees, budgets, and funding
23- Provides new or adjusted funding authorities for 2026-2027 to support management, administration, and consular functions.
24- Authorizes fees for use of the Department’s diplomatic reception rooms and Blair House maintenance; specifies how such fees are credited and accounted for.
25- Permits use of certain surcharges and discretionary balances to support consular operations, subject to appropriations acts and reporting requirements.
26Interagency coordination and privacy
27- Enables information-sharing with other federal agencies for passport/visa adjudications and anti-fraud measures, with safeguards to protect privacy and personal data.
28- Maintains a framework for interagency agreements to facilitate secure information exchange, while ensuring compliance with privacy laws.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected- Department of State personnel and leadership (new Under Secretary, several Assistant Secretaries, and multiple Bureaus), particularly those involved in management, administration, consular affairs, asset management, and diplomatic security.- Consular officers and staff (passport/visa adjudication, consular services, post management, and consular systems modernization).- Foreign missions and international organizations operating in the United States (real-property procedures, notification requirements, and property management rules).Secondary group/area affected- U.S. Government partners (Department of Defense and FBI) due to enhanced coordination on foreign-property acquisitions and security issues.- The Hill’s foreign affairs and budget committees, given new authorization/appropriation needs and reporting requirements.- The general public and U.S. citizens, who could experience changes in how consular services are delivered, system modernization timelines, and post-closure procedures.Additional impacts- Potential changes in budgetary allocations for 2026-2027 to support new structures and programs.- Internal process changes and transition challenges due to reorganizations and transfers (notably the Office of Consular Systems and Technology moving to the CIO framework).- Increased emphasis on security and counterintelligence across both domestic and overseas missions.

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