Modernize the Au Pair Program Act of 2025

The Modernize the Au Pair Program Act of 2025 would reaffirm that the Department of State (DoS) has exclusive regulatory authority over the U.S. au pair program and preempt state or local laws related to the program. It also requires the Secretary of State, within 90 days of enactment, to submit a proposed rule to the Office of Management and Budget to modernize the program. The rule would standardize the stipend and educational stipend that host families provide to au pairs on a nationwide basis (while ensuring costs remain affordable for families), increase flexibility for host families with non-traditional work schedules (such as military families, first responders, single parents, and shift workers), and strengthen the cultural immersion element of the program. The package is framed as updating a long-standing, historically Federal-regulated exchange program to better fit contemporary needs while preserving its public diplomacy purpose.