Parity in Diplomatic Security Investigations Act

Parity in Diplomatic Security Investigations Act would give the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security (DS) the pre-approval authority to arrange interceptions of wire, oral, or electronic communications under 18 U.S.C. § 2516. Specifically, the Secretary of State would delegate this pre-approval authority to DS’s Assistant Secretary or the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security. The bill frames this delegation as necessary for timely and accountable investigations, aligning DS procedures with those used by other federal law enforcement agencies. It also requires the Secretary to update the Foreign Affairs Manual to reflect this delegation within 90 days of enactment. In short, the bill intends to create a more streamlined, parity-based process for DS investigators to obtain intercept approvals, while tying the new authority to existing U.S. law governing wiretaps and to DS’s statutory duties. It also codifies the delegation into official guidance documents (the Foreign Affairs Manual).