Foreign Service Modernization Act

(a) Short title.— This Act may be cited as the “Foreign Service Modernization Act”.

(b) Table of contents.— The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section, chapter, title, or other provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to a section, chapter, title, or other provision, respectively, of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3901 et seq.).

When an amendment in this Act to the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3901 et seq.) adds a section or larger organizational unit to the Act, repeals or transfers a section or larger organizational unit in the Act, or amends the designation or heading of a section or larger organizational unit in the Act, that amendment also shall have the effect of amending any table of contents or similar tabular entries in the Act to alter the table to conform to the changes made by the amendment.

Section 102 (22 U.S.C. 3902) is amended—

(1) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (12) as paragraphs (4) through (13), respectively; and

(2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:

“(3) “appropriate congressional committees” means—

(A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; and

(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.”.

Section 104 (22 U.S.C. 3904) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (2), by striking “and” at the end;

(2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

“(4) implement and execute the foreign policy of the United States through the conduct of diplomacy, the management of programs, and the advancement of United States interests consistent with policies established by the President and Secretary in accordance with this Act.”.

Section 105 (22 U.S.C. 3905) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(f) Recruiting from nontraditional institutions of higher education.—

(1) Sense of Congress.— It is the sense of Congress that the Service should actively recruit candidates from nontraditional institutions of higher education, including community colleges, junior colleges, career and technical colleges, and other open-access or workforce-oriented institutions.

(2) Outreach.— The Secretary should ensure that outreach, information sessions, and preparation resources related to the Foreign Service officer selection process and other entry programs are regularly conducted at nontraditional institutions of higher education. In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary may—

(A) partner, where appropriate, with institutional career centers, faculty, and student organizations to expand awareness of Service careers;

(B) leverage digital and hybrid outreach methods to reach students and alumni who may not be geographically near current recruitment hubs; and

(C) collaborate with other Federal departments and agencies engaged in workforce outreach at nontraditional institutions of higher education.”.

Section 207 (22 U.S.C. 3927) is amended—

(1) in subsection (a)—

(A) in paragraph (1), by striking “and” at the end;

(B) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and

(C) by adding at the end the following:

“(3) shall exercise appropriate and effective risk management practices to encourage each relevant Government executive branch employee in such foreign country to regularly and meaningfully engage in expeditionary diplomacy with the population of such country.”; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

“(e) Tiger Team.—

(1) Establishment.— Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall establish a team (to be known as the “Tiger Team”) to provide to the Secretary a plan to achieve the following:

(A) Improve the capability, and willingness, of chiefs of mission, Regional Security Officers, and Regional Medical Officers to approve expeditionary diplomacy.

(B) Improve the capability, and willingness, of members of the Foreign Service to regularly practice expeditionary diplomacy.

(2) Composition.— The Tiger Team shall consist of the following individuals from the Department, to be appointed by the Secretary:

(A) A senior-level officer or employee who shall—

(i) serve as the “Tiger Team Leader”;

(ii) be accountable for the activities of the Tiger Team under this subsection; and

(iii) not serve concurrently in another assignment or position at the Department during their tenure as Tiger Team Leader.

(B) Not less than one officer or employee from each of the following offices:

(i) The Under Secretary for Political Affairs;

(ii) The Bureau of Diplomatic Security;

(iii) The Bureau of Administration;

(iv) The Bureau of Diplomatic Technology;

(v) The Bureau of Human Resources;

(vi) The Bureau of Medical Services; and

(vii) The Bureau of Overseas Building Operations.

(C) Not less than one individual who has international development experience and expertise;

(3) Congressional notification.— Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall notify Congress of the names and titles of the appointed to the Tiger Team under paragraph (2).

(4) Plan for expeditionary diplomacy.—

(A) In general.— The plan required to be submitted by the Tiger Team shall include the following:

(i) A description of the manner in which the Secretary, working through the Tiger Team, shall—

(I) assess the current state of the Department’s ability and willingness to practice expeditionary diplomacy;

(II) review previous and current Department efforts and historical recommendation reports, external and internal, on expeditionary diplomacy;

(III) assess the current challenges experienced by the Department, chiefs of mission, and members of the Service in practicing expeditionary diplomacy; and

(IV) produce policy, regulations, and legislative recommendations to address such challenges.

(ii) A timeline for implementing, carrying out, and completing this plan by the date required under subparagraph (B).

(iii) A description of the additional funding, personnel, or other resources of the Department required to carry out the plan, including any modification of applicable statutory or administrative authorities.

(B) Implementation.— The Secretary shall implement to the plan under this paragraph not later than the date that is 12 months after the date of the enactment of this subsection.

(5) Report.—

(A) In general.— Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the Tiger Team shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the activities of the Tiger Team undertaken pursuant to this subsection. The report shall include the following:

(i) A description of the challenges related to expeditionary diplomacy identified, including challenges identified by the Comptroller General of the United States.

(ii) A description of recommendations to address such challenges, including the resources, staffing, authorities, and legislative changes required for implementation.

(iii) A timeline for the implementation of such recommendations.

(iv) A designation of an office responsible for monitoring the implementation of such recommendations following the termination of the Tiger Team pursuant to paragraph (6).

(B) Implementation.— For the period of 90 days after the date on which the report is submitted, the Tiger Team shall oversee and monitor the implementation of recommendations submitted in such report.

(6) Termination.— The Secretary shall terminate the Tiger Team not later than the date that is 90 days after the date on which the final report required by paragraph (5) is submitted.”.

Section 207(a)(1) (22 U.S.C. 3927(a)(1)) is amended by inserting before the semicolon at the end the following: “, Diplomatic Security special agents assigned as Regional Security Officers shall support the chief of mission in meeting security responsibilities for the United States Government by serving as the principal security and lead law enforcement representatives to chiefs of mission.”.

Section 208 (22 U.S.C. 3928) is amended by striking the period at the end of the first sentence and inserting the following: “and shall be appointed to serve concurrently as the Assistant Secretary for Human Resources.”.

Section 211 (22 U.S.C. 3931) is amended in the second sentence by striking “or training in the fields of testing” and inserting “academic study, background in diplomacy,”.

Chapter 2 of title I is amended by adding at the end the following:

“212. Cybersecurity, technology governance, and operational coordination.—

(a) In general.— The Secretary shall establish and maintain a cybersecurity and technology governance framework to support Service operations at United States missions abroad, including unified authority, accountability, and coordination for the protection of information systems, data, and mission technology.

(b) Roles and responsibilities.— The framework required under subsection (a) should—

(1) delineate the roles and responsibilities of the Bureau of Diplomatic Technology, the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, regional bureaus, and chiefs of mission with respect to—

(A) cybersecurity policy and standards;

(B) operational cybersecurity implementation;

(C) technology lifecycle management, including hardware accountability and supply chain risk;

(D) artificial intelligence governance and risk management;

(E) incident detection and response;

(F) vulnerability management; and

(G) risk mitigation and reporting;

(2) establish clear lines of authority for cybersecurity and technology incident response and escalation, including at a post abroad;

(3) require coordination mechanisms between the Bureau of Diplomatic Technology and the Bureau of Diplomatic Security to ensure integration of cyber, physical, personnel, and supply chain security measures; and

(4) ensure that a chief of mission is informed of, and accountable for, the cybersecurity and technology posture at the post of such chief of mission, consistent with section 207.

(c) Secure hardware and supply chain protections.— The Secretary shall ensure the implementation of policies governing—

(1) inventory control and accountability of Government-issued hardware at a United States mission abroad;

(2) mitigation of foreign supply chain risks at United States missions abroad;

(3) inspection and validation of equipment before deployment at United States missions abroad; and

(4) procedures for handling equipment that is compromised or suspected to be compromised at United States missions abroad.

(d) Incident response protocols.— The Secretary shall ensure the development and implementation of standardized cybersecurity and technology incident response protocols for United States missions abroad, including defined reporting timelines and inter-bureau coordination requirements.

(e) Rule of construction.— Nothing in this section may be construed to limit the authority of a chief of mission under section 207 with respect to oversight of cybersecurity and technology posture at a United States mission abroad.”.

Section 304 (22 U.S.C. 3944) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(c) Sense of Congress.— It is the sense of Congress that—

(1) detailed knowledge and requisite experience formulating and executing United States foreign policy, including a working understanding of Department operations and procedures, is vital for chiefs of mission, Assistant Secretaries of State, and other senior officials at the Department to successfully advance United States national security, and for managing the Federal workforce, in order to effectively assert and expand United States competitiveness and leadership abroad; and

(2) the People’s Republic of China and other adversaries are rapidly expanding their global diplomatic presences and it is imperative that the Department is appropriately staffed by empowered, nonpartisan foreign policy professionals and thoroughly qualified and vetted political appointees, who work together to protect United States citizens and advance United States interests across the globe.”.

Chapter 3 of title I (22 U.S.C. 3941 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“313. Foreign Service Pathway for Veterans Program.—

(a) Establishment.— The Secretary shall establish a program, to be known as the “Veterans and Foreign Service Pathway Program”, to recruit, prepare, and support qualified individuals for service in the Service.

(b) Eligibility.— The program required by subsection (a) shall be open to—

(1) veterans, as such term is defined in section 2108 of title 5, United States Code;

(2) members of the Armed Forces who are within one year of separation, retirement, or release from active duty in the Armed Forces.

(c) Matters To be included.— The program required by subsection (a) shall include—

(1) targeted recruitment aligned to Service career tracks, including Diplomatic Security, security engineering, cybersecurity, medical, and other roles;

(2) mentorship and preparatory training for the Service application and assessment process;

(3) coordination with relevant Department offices to facilitate candidate readiness for Service entry requirements;

(4) outreach and engagement with military installations and transition programs; and

(5) coordination with existing fellowship and recruitment programs of the Department, including the Veterans Innovation Partnership Fellowship, to support pathways to Service employment.

(d) Streamlined accession pilot program.—

(1) In general.— The Secretary is authorized to establish a pilot program to recruit and appoint qualified individuals described in subsection (b) into designated Service positions through streamlined hiring procedures.

(2) Covered positions.— The Secretary shall designate positions eligible under the pilot program, which may include the following:

(A) Diplomatic Security special agent positions.

(B) Diplomatic courier positions capped at 10 percent annually.

(C) Security engineering officer and security technical specialist positions.

(D) Cybersecurity and technology-related positions.

(E) Other Service positions identified by the Secretary as critical to mission readiness.

(e) Requirements.— The pilot program shall—

(1) maintain all applicable merit-based hiring principles and qualification standards; and

(2) provide for expedited processing, assessment, and onboarding of candidates.

(f) Coordination with Department of Defense transition programs.— The Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, shall—

(1) integrate information on Service career opportunities, including Diplomatic Security roles, into the curricula and materials of the Transition Assistance Program of the Department of Defense;

(2) conduct regular outreach to transitioning servicemembers at military installations; and

(3) develop and maintain military occupational specialty crosswalks aligned to Service career tracks.

(g) Sunset.— The pilot program shall terminate on the date that is five years after the date of enactment of this section.

(h) Rule of construction.— Nothing in this section may be construed to alter or diminish existing Service hiring standards or the authority of the Secretary to determine qualifications for appointment.”.

Chapter 3 of title I (22 U.S.C. 3941 et seq.), as amended by section 302, is further amended by adding at the end the following:

“314. Commitment in hiring process relating to participation in the Foreign Service fellowship program.—

(a) In general.— The Secretary, with consideration of Department needs, shall assess the fitness and suitability for hire of any individual who—

(1) was selected for participation in a Foreign Service fellowship program administered or funded by the Department; and

(2) has successfully completed all educational and programmatic requirements of such fellowship program.

(b) Eligibility for appointment.— An individual described in subsection (a) shall remain eligible for appointment as a Service officer, subject to—

(1) successful completion of applicable security, medical, and suitability requirements; and

(2) satisfaction of the appointment standards set forth in this Act.

(c) Prohibition on arbitrary withdrawal.— The Secretary shall assess the fitness and suitability for service of any individual described in subsection (a) without regard to—

(1) changes in workforce planning, hiring targets, or staffing levels; or

(2) administrative or policy changes occurring after the individual’s selection for the fellowship program.

(d) Prioritizing department needs.— In all cases of hiring of individuals described in subsection (a), the Secretary—

(1) shall make final hiring decisions based on the utility of the hire to the Department’s mission; and

(2) shall weigh favorably the prior military service and other relevant experiences of such individuals with respect to fitness for service.

(e) Timing of appointment.— The Secretary shall consider for appointment all eligible individuals described in subsection (a) not later than 12 months after completion of the fellowship’s educational requirements, unless the individual—

(1) requests a deferral; or

(2) is temporarily ineligible due to pending security, medical, or suitability determinations.

(f) Notification and reporting.— If the Secretary delays the assessment of the fitness and suitability for hire of an eligible individual described in subsection (a) beyond the period specified in subsection (f), the Secretary shall—

(1) provide written notice to the individual describing the reason for the delay not later than 15 days after the date on which the delay begins; and

(2) provide written notice to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives describing the reason for the delay not later than 30 days after the date on which the delay begins.”.

Chapter 5 of title I (22 U.S.C. 3981 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“506. Protection of external training, education, and details.—

(a) Definitions.— In this section—

(1) the term ‘external training or education’ means training, education, or fellowship programs conducted by entities other than foreign affairs agencies, including—

(A) other Federal departments or agencies;

(B) the Legislative branch;

(C) State, local, Tribal, or territorial governments;

(D) international organizations;

(E) accredited academic institutions; and

(F) other entities approved by the head of the foreign affairs agency concerned; and

(2) the term ‘external detail’ means a temporary assignment, fellowship, or detail to an entity described in paragraph (1).

(b) Authorization.— A member of the Service may, with the approval of the head of the foreign affairs agency concerned, participate in external training, education, or details when such participation is determined to be in the interest of the United States.

(c) Uniform career protections.— A member of the Service participating in an approved external training, education, or detail—

(1) shall retain Service status, grade, and appointment;

(2) shall continue to accrue time-in-class, time-in-service, tenure eligibility, and retirement credit as if serving in a domestic assignment or an assignment in a foreign country;

(3) shall remain fully eligible for promotion, pay increases, tenure, and awards on the same basis as members not on such assignments;

(4) shall not be disadvantaged in assignments, bidding, performance evaluations, or career progression solely because of such participation; and

(5) shall not be required to resign, accept a limited appointment, or otherwise relinquish Service status as a condition of participation.

(d) Performance evaluation requirements.— Each foreign affairs agency shall ensure that members on approved external training or detail receive—

(1) timely and meaningful performance evaluations;

(2) evaluation standards and promotion precepts that recognize the nature and value of external service; and

(3) written guidance to supervisors outside foreign affairs agencies regarding evaluation responsibilities.

(e) Reentry and assignment rights.— Upon completion of an approved external training or detail, a member—

(1) shall be eligible for reassignment to positions consistent with the member’s grade and professional qualifications; and

(2) shall not be required to compete for reentry into the Service or otherwise be treated as a new entrant.

(f) Limitation on waivers.— The protections of this section may not be waived except by statute.

(g) Regulations.— Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this section, the head of each foreign affairs agency—

(1) shall issue regulations implementing this section, which shall be consistent across agencies to the maximum extent practicable.

(2) shall revise applicable regulations, evaluation precepts, and personnel policies to ensure full implementation of this section.

(h) Rule of construction.— Nothing in this section may be construed to conflict with the requirements of section 504 or the regulations to implement such section.”.

Section 601(c) (22 U.S.C. 4001(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(7) Promotions.—

(A) In general.— The opening of a promotion window, on or after the date that is five years after the date of enactment of this paragraph, of any Service officer, appointed under section 302(a)(1), who has general responsibility for carrying out the functions of the Service to the Senior Foreign Service should be contingent upon such individual completing at least one joint duty assignment.

(B) Exceptions.— The Secretary may—

(i) identify circumstances under which the requirements under subparagraph (A) shall not apply, which may include that the individual proposed for promotion to the Senior Foreign Service—

(I) has met all other requirements applicable to such promotion; and

(II) was unable to complete a joint duty assignment because there was not a reasonable opportunity for such individual to be assigned to such a position; and

(ii) exempt Foreign Service Medical Specialists who entered as a FS–01 rank and serve as a Regional Medical Officer from the requirements under subparagraph (A).

(C) Joint duty assignment defined.— In this paragraph, the term “joint duty assignment” means a tour of duty of not less than 12 months in—

(i) a Federal department or agency other than the Department;

(ii) the Congress, pursuant to a fellowship or detail program approved by the Secretary;

(iii) an international organization of which the United States is a member, pursuant to a fellowship or detail program approved by the Secretary; or

(iv) a State or local government.”.

Section 601 (22 U.S.C. 4001) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(d) Requirement.— Not later than 90 days after the conclusion of any Service tenure or promotion board whose recommendations require the advice and consent of the Senate, the Secretary—

(1) should finalize the list of Service members recommended for tenure as well as Service officers and specialists recommended for promotion to and within the Senior Foreign Service; and

(2) transmit such list to the President for nomination consideration to the Senate.

(e) Expedient processing.— It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary should ensure that the administrative review, clearance, and transmission of tenure and promotion recommendations are conducted in an expeditious manner, and that no avoidable administrative delay prevents compliance with the deadline established under subsection (a).

(f) Limited exceptions.— The Secretary may delay publication of an individual name beyond the period specified in subsection (a) only if the delay is necessary due to an ongoing disciplinary, suitability, or security investigation; and the affected officer is provided written notice of the reason for such delay. Any delay under this subsection should be limited to the minimum period necessary and shall not affect the publication of the remaining list.

(g) Accountability.— If the Secretary fails to meet the requirements of subsection (a), the Secretary shall, not later than 30 days after the expiration of the deadline, provide a briefing to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives on the reasons for the failure to meet such requirements and corrective actions taken to prevent future delays.

(h) Rule of construction.— Nothing in this section may be construed to alter the constitutional role of the Senate in providing advice and consent.”.

(a) Prohibition on nepotism.— Section 602 (22 U.S.C. 4002) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(d) Prohibition on nepotism in recruitment process.—

(1) In general.— No employee of the Department who is involved in, or has influence over, the recruitment, evaluation, or selection of public members of selection boards established under this section may refer, recommend, or otherwise facilitate the consideration of any individual with whom such employee has a personal connection.

(2) Personal connection defined.— In this section, the term “personal connection”, with respect to an employee, includes—

(A) a family member, including a spouse, domestic partner, parent, child, sibling, or any individual related by blood, marriage, or adoption, to the employee; and

(B) any individual with whom the employee has a close personal relationship, including a friend, former colleague, or any other relationship that could reasonably give rise to an appearance of favoritism or bias.

(3) Disclosure.—

(A) In general.— Any Office of Performance Evaluation employee or other personnel described in subsection (a) who becomes aware that an applicant for service as a public member of a selection board established under this section has a personal connection to such employee shall—

(i) promptly disclose such relationship in writing to the Director of the Office of Performance Evaluation; and

(ii) recuse himself or herself from any further involvement in the recruitment, evaluation, or selection of that applicant.

(B) Recordkeeping.— The Department shall maintain written records of all disclosures and recusals made under this paragraph.

(4) Prohibition.— No applicant for service as a public member of a selection board established under this section may advance to the interview or selection stage if such applicant was referred, recommended, or otherwise introduced into the applicant pool by an employee in violation of this subsection.

(5) Administrative discipline.— Any employee who knowingly violates the terms and conditions of this subsection shall be subject to appropriate administrative discipline, in accordance with applicable law and regulations.”.

(b) Clarification of recruitment sources.—

(1) In general.— Section 602 (22 U.S.C. 4002), as amended by subsection (a), is further amended by adding at the end the following:

“(e) Clarification of recruitment sources.—

(1) In general.— The Secretary is authorized to revise and standardize all contract request memoranda used for the appointment of public members to selection boards established under this section to ensure accuracy, transparency, and accountability in the recruitment process.

(2) Matters to be included.— Each contract request memorandum described in paragraph (1) shall include—

(A) a clear description of the recruitment process through which the individual was identified and selected;

(B) the specific recruitment source of the individual, including whether the individual was identified through formal outreach, open application, or word-of-mouth referral;

(C) the name and position of any Department employee or other individual who referred, recommended, or otherwise facilitated the individual’s entry into the recruitment process; and

(D) any relevant documentation required under Department policies governing recruitment and selection.

(3) Additional matters to be included.— Each contract request memorandum described in paragraph (1) shall also include a signed written certification from the individual identified as the recruitment source stating that, to the best of that individual’s knowledge, the individual selected for appointment—

(A) is not a family member; and

(B) does not have a close personal relationship that could reasonably give rise to an appearance of favoritism or bias.

(4) Forms and procedures.— The Secretary shall establish standardized forms and procedures for the certification required under paragraph (3).

(5) Limitation.— No contract for service as a public member of a selection board established under this section may be approved or executed unless the contract request memorandum complies with the requirements of this subsection.

(6) Recordkeeping.— The Department—

(A) shall retain all contract request memoranda and associated certifications required under this subsection for three years; and

(B) shall make such records available for review by appropriate oversight entities.”.

(2) Effective date.— Subsection (e) of section 602 (22 U.S.C. 4002), as added by paragraph (1), shall apply to all contract request memoranda described in such subsection that are prepared on or after the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(c) Internal controls for word-of-Mouth referrals.—

(1) In general.— Section 602 (22 U.S.C. 4002), as amended by subsections (a) and (b), is further amended by adding at the end the following:

“(f) Internal controls for word-of-Mouth referrals.—

(1) Policy.— The Director General of the Service, acting through the Office of Performance Evaluation, shall establish and implement a standardized, transparent, and consistently applied policy governing the use of “word-of-mouth referrals” in the recruitment of public members for selection boards established under this section.

(2) Matters to be included.— The policy required by paragraph (1) shall—

(A) define the term “word-of-mouth referral” to include any informal or direct communication by Department personnel to an individual encouraging or inviting that individual to apply for service as a public member;

(B) establish uniform procedures governing when and how such referrals may be made;

(C) ensure that such referrals are conducted in a manner consistent with merit-based selection principles and applicable ethics requirements; and

(D) prohibit the use of informal referrals in a manner that circumvents established recruitment or outreach processes.

(3) Documentation.— The Assistant Secretary shall require that all word-of-mouth referrals be documented in writing. Such documentation shall include—

(A) the name of the Department employee making the referral;

(B) the name of the individual referred;

(C) the date and method of communication; and

(D) a brief description of the nature of communication, including whether the individual was encouraged or invited to apply.

(4) Limitation.— No individual may advance in the recruitment process for service as a public member for a selection board established under this section unless the documentation required under this subsection has been completed and retained.

(5) Recordkeeping.— The Department shall maintain records of all word-of-mouth referrals in a centralized system to ensure transparency, accountability, and auditability for not less than three years, which shall be made available for review upon request by appropriate oversight entities.”.

(2) Effective date.— Subsection (f) of section 602 (22 U.S.C. 4002), as added by paragraph (1), shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Section 603(b) (22 U.S.C. 4003(b)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (8), by striking “or” at the end;

(2) in paragraph (9), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; or”; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

“(10) experience with the Legislative branch, including fellowships in a congressional office or committee, or within the Bureau of Legislative Affairs of the Department.”.

Section 701 (22 U.S.C. 4021) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(h) Access to Information Center.—

(1) In general.— The Director of the Overseas Briefing Center, in coordination with the Director of the National Foreign Affairs Training Center, shall provide the appropriate congressional committees with access to the Information Center and its materials, including digital and physical materials.

(2) Scheduling options.— Not later than two days after a request by the appropriate congressional committees for access to the Information Center and its materials under paragraph (1), the Director of the Overseas Briefing Center, in coordination with the Bureau of Legislative Affairs of the Department, shall provide to the congressional committees a list of options to schedule such access on a timely basis.”.

(a) In general.— Section 701 (22 U.S.C. 4021), as amended by section 601, is further amended by adding at the end the following:

“(i) List of critical foreign languages.—

(1) In general.— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this subsection, and not less frequently than once every three years thereafter, the Secretary should designate, and make available to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, a list of critical foreign languages for purposes of this Act.

(2) Matters to be included.— For each critical foreign language designated pursuant to paragraph (1), the Secretary shall include information in the list describing—

(A) minimum tested levels at which a member of the Service shall be considered to be proficient in the language; and

(B) criteria for determining positions for which such critical foreign language capability is mission essential.

(3) Coordination.— In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, coordinate with the heads of other Federal departments and agencies that maintain foreign language capabilities, in order to promote interoperability, avoid duplication, and achieve cost savings to the taxpayer.

(4) Workforce planning.— The Secretary should incorporate critical foreign language capability planning into the career development, training, and assignment processes under this chapter, including through—

(A) the use of training at the National Foreign Affairs Training Center;

(B) the use of limited noncareer appointments and recall and reappointment authorities under sections 308 and 309 to address temporary or surge requirements; and

(C) the development of a surge reserve of rehired officers and other appropriately cleared individuals with critical foreign language capabilities who may be activated rapidly in response to crises.

(5) Critical foreign language defined.— In this subsection, the term “critical foreign language” means a foreign language identified by the Secretary, in consultation with the heads of other Federal departments and agencies, as appropriate—

(A) as essential to the protection of United States national security interests, United States economic prosperity, and the protection of United States citizens abroad;

(B) with respect to which required levels of proficiency are limited in the United States workforce relative to strategic needs and operational demand; and

(C) as corresponding to category I, II, III, or IV languages, as specified in section 3911.2 of volume 3 of the Foreign Affairs Manual (3 FAM 3911.2) or successor guidance, encompassing difficult, hard, and super hard languages that are less commonly taught or studied in the United States.”.

(b) Critical foreign language requirement.— Section 702 (22 U.S.C. 4022) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(c) Critical foreign language requirement.— In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall ensure that policies for the instruction, testing, and use of foreign languages explicitly support the preservation of capabilities with respect to critical foreign languages identified pursuant to section 701(i).”.

(a) In general.— Section 702 (22 U.S.C. 4022), as amended by section 602(b), is further amended by adding at the end the following:

“(d) Use of world language skills.—

(1) Requirement.— Any member of the Service who undergoes full-time, Department-funded language training for a period exceeding six months shall be required to serve no fewer than three consecutive tours in positions for which proficiency in such language is a documented requirement for the position.

(2) Timing of assignments.— The requirement under paragraph (1) shall commence with the first assignment immediately following the completion of the language training and shall continue without interruption, except as provided in paragraph (3).

(3) Waiver authority.— The Secretary may waive the requirement under paragraph (1) with respect to a member of the Service only if the Secretary certifies to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate that—

(A) the member has developed a medical condition preventing service at the required posts;

(B) the member is assigned to a position of higher priority; or

(C) there is no vacant position for which the member is qualified where the language skill is required.

(4) Consecutive tours defined.— The term “consecutive tours” refers to sequential assignments either overseas at posts where the trained language is the primary local or official language, or domestic assignments where the primary duties involve direct use of the trained language or the trained language is helpful to the completion of domestic assignment duties.”.

(b) Effective date.— The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply to any member of the Service who begins language training on or after the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Section 703 (22 U.S.C. 4023) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(f) Diplomatic security fellowship program.—

(1) In general.— The Secretary, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security, shall administer a fellowship program to recruit, retain, train, and prepare qualified individuals for service within the Bureau of Diplomatic Security.

(2) Objectives.— The objectives of the fellowship program established under paragraph (1) shall be—

(A) to leverage specialized skills relevant to the diplomatic security mission;

(B) to provide structured training and mentorship for fellows; and

(C) to support recruitment into a position within the Bureau of Diplomatic Security through the existing competitive hiring processes of the Department.”.

Section 703 (22 U.S.C. 4023), as amended by section 604, is further amended by adding at the end the following:

“(g) Bureau of African Affairs staffing.— The Secretary, in consultation with the Assistant Secretaries for Human Resources and for African Affairs, shall establish a program to facilitate and expedite the hiring of qualified individuals with expertise on African countries into the Service to fill positions at missions under the authority of the Bureau of African Affairs and domestic positions under the Bureau of African Affairs.”.

Section 704 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4024) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

“(d) Contracting officer’s representative and agreement officer’s representative training.—

(1) In general.— The Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary for Foreign Assistance, is authorized to establish a program to recruit, train, and retain personnel serving as Contracting Officer’s Representatives and Agreement Officer’s Representatives for the Department, to ensure that the Bureau has sufficient personnel with the skills and expertise necessary to plan, implement, and manage United States foreign assistance operations and programs.

(2) Training.— Personnel recruited, trained, or retained under the program authorized by paragraph (1) shall receive training necessary to effectively oversee and administer foreign assistance instruments and disaster assistance operations, which may include training in procurement, grants and cooperative agreement oversight, logistics, financial management, monitoring and evaluation, and emergency response operations.”.

(a) Antisemitism training.— Section 708(a) (22 U.S.C. 4028(a)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1)(B), by inserting before the semicolon “, including instruction on identifying and addressing antisemitism, including contemporary forms of antisemitism and Holocaust distortion and denial”; and

(2) in paragraph (2)(B), in the first sentence, by inserting “, the Office of the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, the Office of the Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues,” after “Training Center”.

(b) AUKUS training.— Section 708 (22 U.S.C. 4028) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(f) AUKUS training.— The Secretary, with the assistance of other relevant Federal officials, shall ensure that any member of the Service who is assigned to a position in Australia or the United Kingdom or that may be called upon to work on issues related to the enhanced trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States (referred to as the “AUKUS partnership”, as that term is defined in section 1321(2) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31; 22 U.S.C. 10401(2))) have access to training and briefings needed to coordinate on the AUKUS partnership, including training on—

(1) Australia, United Kingdom, and United States governance infrastructure and policies related to the sale, development, production, and co-production of advanced defense technology;

(2) overview of AUKUS security pact Pillar I and Pillar II technologies, capabilities, and their strategic impetus; and

(3) workforce challenges and needs in the host country related to the AUKUS partnership.”.

(c) International narcotics and law enforcement training.— Section 708 (22 U.S.C. 4028), as amended by subsection (b), is further amended by adding at the end the following:

“(g) International narcotics and law enforcement training.—

(1) In general.— The Secretary, in consultation with the Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and such other officials as the Secretary considers appropriate, may establish training courses on—

(A) international narcotics control, including the mechanisms, legal authorities, and programmatic requirements applicable to assistance provided under INL’s statutory authorities relating to international narcotics control and law enforcement assistance;

(B) international law enforcement cooperation, including the use of bilateral and multilateral legal assistance frameworks;

(C) countering transnational organized crime, money laundering, and other tools of illicit finance; and

(D) anti-corruption efforts, including most effective methods of countering corruption and promoting the rule-of-law abroad.

(2) Required training.— Any member of the Service who is directly responsible for the administration, oversight, or management of assistance described in paragraph (1)(A) should receive training in the areas described in paragraph (1) prior to the beginning of service in such assignment or, if receiving such training prior to the beginning of service is not practicable, not later than one year after beginning such assignment.

(3) Consultation.— In developing the curriculum required under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consult with—

(A) the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs;

(B) the Office of the Legal Adviser; and

(C) other relevant bureaus and offices of the Department as the Secretary determines appropriate.”.

(d) Foreign scam syndicates training.— Section 708 (22 U.S.C. 4028), as amended by subsections (b) and (c), is further amended by adding at the end the following:

“(h) Foreign scam syndicates training.—

(1) In general.— The Secretary may establish training for chiefs of mission, deputy chiefs of mission, and Foreign Service officers who will be assigned to a country that, as determined by the Secretary, is home to significant online scam activity targeting Americans, on appropriate training on matters related to online scam activity.

(2) Matters to be included.— The training required under paragraph (1)—

(A) should address—

(i) transnational criminal organizations conducting the scams;

(ii) online scam centers and human trafficking inside such centers; and

(iii) foreign government complicity and corruption; and

(B) should identify diplomatic methods to identify, prevent, and respond to such activities.”.

(e) Training for chiefs of mission on defense cooperation authorities.— Section 708 (22 U.S.C. 4028), as amended by subsections (b), (c), and (d), is further amended by adding at the end the following:

“(i) Training for chiefs of mission on defense cooperation authorities.—

(1) In general.— The Secretary shall establish a training course for chiefs of mission on the authorities, requirements, and limitations applicable to defense cooperation programs that do not fall under the authority of the chief of mission.

(2) Matters to be included.— The training course required under paragraph (1) shall include instruction on—

(A) the role of the chief of mission in providing concurrence for programs conducted under the authorities described in paragraph (1), including the scope of the chief of mission’s role and procedures to request information from the Department of Defense prior to providing or withholding such concurrence;

(B) the foreign policy implications of defense cooperation programs, including risks of mission creep and adverse effects on bilateral relationships; and

(C) the relationship between defense cooperation programs and the chief of mission’s responsibility for the direction, coordination, and supervision of all United States Government Executive branch activities, operations, and employees in the country to which such chief of mission exercises authority, pursuant to section 207.

(3) Pre-assignment training.— Any chief of mission assigned to a post at which a defense cooperation program described in paragraph (1) is in effect or proposed, as determined by the Secretary, should complete the training course established under paragraph (1) prior to the beginning of service at such post or, if completing such training prior to the beginning of service is not practicable, not later than 180 days after beginning such service.

(4) Consultation.— In developing the curriculum required under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall consult with—

(A) the Office of the Legal Adviser of the Department;

(B) the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs of the Department; and

(C) other offices and bureaus of the Department, as appropriate.”.

(f) Clerical amendment.— The table of contents in section 2 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 707 the following:

Chapter 7 of title I (22 U.S.C. 4021 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“709. Crisis management and strategy leadership training.— All principal officers and Chiefs of Mission shall be required to receive a post-specific brief by the Crisis Management and Strategy Office at the Department Operations Center prior to departing the District of Columbia on assignment.”.

(a) In general.— Chapter 7 (22 U.S.C. 4021 et seq.), as amended by section 608, is further amended by adding at the end the following:

“710. Structured training framework and protected training periods.—

(a) Structured training framework.—

(1) In general.— The Secretary is authorized to establish and maintain a structured training framework applicable at defined career milestones for members of the Service.

(2) Matters to be included.— Training under the structured training framework established under paragraph (1)—

(A) shall be integrated into normal career progression;

(B) shall reflect evolving foreign policy priorities, emerging threats, technological developments, national security requirements, and the President’s National Security Strategy; and

(C) shall be a mandatory and institutionalized component of Service career development.

(b) Protected training periods.—

(1) In general.— The Secretary shall ensure that protected training periods are built into the assignment and promotion cycle of members of the Service to permit completion of required training.

(2) Matters to be included.— Protected training periods required by paragraph (1)—

(A) shall be treated as a standard component of service;

(B) shall not be contingent solely upon post-level staffing flexibility; and

(C) shall be structured to ensure that operational demands do not routinely preclude required training.

(3) Coordination.— The Department shall plan workforce and assignment cycles to accommodate protected training periods required by paragraph (1) in a manner comparable to professional military education models within the Armed Forces.

(c) Scope of training.— Training under the structured training framework established under subsection (a) and protected training periods under subsection (b) may include instruction in—

(1) national security, diplomatic security, and counterintelligence;

(2) cybersecurity, emerging technologies, and artificial intelligence;

(3) economic statecraft, sanctions, export controls, and trade policy;

(4) energy security and strategic resources;

(5) interagency coordination and crisis response;

(6) Fellowship opportunity outside of the Department;

(7) leadership and management; and

(8) such other subjects as the Secretary determines appropriate.

(d) Career stage training.— Training under the structured training framework established under subsection (a) and protected training periods under subsection (b) may include instruction in the following:

(1) Entry-level: cohesion and rotations.

(2) Mid-level: leadership and interagency exposure.

(3) Pre-senior: professional development tours.

(4) Senior: capstone training.

(e) Evaluation metrics.— The Secretary—

(1) shall establish metrics for evaluating the completion and effectiveness of training under the structured training framework established under subsection (a) and protected training periods under subsection (b); and

(2) shall ensure that instructors of such training certify such training for members of the Service upon satisfactory completion of such training.

(f) Strategic planning training.— Establish National Foreign Affairs Training Center curriculum within one year including best practices, challenges, and simulations.

(g) Periodic review and update.— The Secretary shall periodically review and update requirements for training under the structured training framework established under subsection (a) and protected training periods under subsection (b) every four years to ensure responsiveness to changes in the global operating environment.”.

(b) Promotion eligibility and training requirement.— Section 601(c) (22 U.S.C. 4001(c)), as amended by section 501, is further amended by adding at the following:

“(8) Promotion eligibility and training requirement.—

(A) In general.— A member of the Service shall not be eligible for promotion to any class above FS–03 or into the Senior Foreign Service unless—

(i) the member has completed the applicable training requirements established under section 710; and

(ii) the completion of such training requirements is certified by the Director General of the Service prior to consideration by a promotion board with respect to the proposed promotion.

(B) Waiver authority.— The Secretary may waive the requirements of subparagraph (A) with respect to a member of the Service in the case of extraordinary circumstances if the Secretary approves such waiver in writing. The Secretary may not delegate the waiver authority under this subparagraph.”.

Chapter 7 of title I (22 U.S.C. 4021 et seq.), as amended by sections 608 and 609, is further amended by adding at the end the following:

“711. Leadership training.—

(a) Sense of Congress.— It is the sense of Congress that—

(1) effective leadership, including the management of personnel and resources, is essential to the execution of United States foreign policy and the management of United States missions abroad;

(2) Foreign Service Officers frequently assume supervisory and managerial responsibilities in complex, high-risk environments; and

(3) mandatory leadership and management preparation enhances mission performance, accountability, workforce morale, and the responsible stewardship of public resources.

(b) In general.— Members of the Service shall receive appropriate and comprehensive leadership training, including personnel and resource management, prior to assuming a leadership assignment, including any Service position of a duration of not less than one month that includes supervisory, managerial, executive, or chief-of-section authority over not fewer than one United States Government employee, eligible family member employed at the mission, or locally employed staff person.

(c) Requirement.— A member of the Service may not assume a leadership position as described in subsection (b) unless such a member has successfully completed the leadership and management training required under subsection (d) within the preceding three years.

(d) Leadership and management training.—

(1) In general.— The Secretary, acting through the Director of the National Foreign Affairs Training Center, shall establish a curriculum for tiered joint leadership and management training requirements appropriate to—

(A) first-time supervisors;

(B) mid-level managers;

(C) senior leaders, including Deputy Chiefs of Mission, Chiefs of Mission, and Principal Officers; and

(D) any other category the Secretary determines appropriate.

(2) Duration.— The leadership and management training required under paragraph (1) shall, at minimum, consist of at least one month of training per tier.

(3) Frequency and capacity.— The Secretary shall ensure that leadership and management training required under paragraph (1) is made available with sufficient frequency and capacity to prevent undue delay in assignments.

(e) Waiver authority.—

(1) In general.— The Secretary may waive the leadership and management training required under subsection (d) on a temporary basis in emergent circumstances where a member of the Service must assume a supervisory, managerial, or leadership position immediately to ensure continuity of operations.

(2) Short-term waiver.— A waiver issued under paragraph (1) may permit a member of the Service to serve in a position described in paragraph (1) for a period not to exceed 30 days without having completed the required training.

(3) Extended temporary service.— In cases in which a member of the Service is expected to serve in a position described in paragraph (1) for a period exceeding 30 days, the chief of mission and the Director General of the Service shall coordinate to ensure that the member is scheduled to complete the required training for the position within a reasonable amount of time, not to exceed the date that is 60 days after the date on which the member assumes such position.

(4) Congressional notification.— Not later than 15 days after issuing a waiver under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall notify the appropriate congressional committees of such waiver, including the justification for the waiver and the expected duration of the assignment.

(f) Sunset.— This section shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the enactment of this section.”.

Chapter 7 of title I (22 U.S.C. 4021 et seq.), as amended by sections 608, 609, and 610, is further amended by adding at the end the following:

“712. Training relating to critical minerals.—

(a) People’s Republic of China.—

(1) In general.— The Secretary, in consultation with the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs and the Director of the George P. Shultz National Foreign Affairs Training Center, shall establish an academic program focused on global supply chains and their relation to strategic competition with the People’s Republic of China.

(2) Training requirements.— The academic program established under paragraph (1) shall be mandatory for—

(A) entry-level Service officers identified as Economic Officers prior to the end of the second tour in the Department; and

(B) Service officers identified as Economic Officers prior to deployment at a United States presence post abroad to fill a billet where the primary focus of the portfolio will be critical minerals or energy.

(3) Contents.— The academic program established under paragraph (1) shall include the following:

(A) Instruction on international documents, treaties, and agreements relevant to global energy and critical mineral supply chains.

(B) United States Government policies and strategies for mitigating vulnerabilities in global supply chains.

(C) Basic geological knowledge about critical minerals.

(D) Analysis of the effects of strategic competition, including with the People’s Republic of China, on United States interests.

(E) Regional- and country-specific instruction tailored to the resources, economy, and international trade relationships of the receiving country.

(F) Practical guidance for officers to advance United States foreign policy objectives in diplomacy, trade negotiations, multilateral forums, and crisis scenarios related to supply chains.

(G) Specialized training related to critical minerals as described in subsection (b).

(b) Critical mineral-Specific training relating to certain other countries.—

(1) In general.— The Secretary shall require specialized training on critical minerals for Service officers identified as Economic Officers prior to deployment to United States presence posts in countries that—

(A) produce, process, refine, or export significant quantities of critical minerals;

(B) host critical mineral reserves of strategic importance to the United States; or

(C) play a significant role in global critical mineral supply chains, including through transportation, processing, or downstream manufacturing.

(2) Contents.— The specialized training related to critical minerals required under paragraph (1) shall include the following:

(A) An overview of United States critical minerals policy and interagency roles.

(B) Basic geological knowledge of critical minerals and extraction processes.

(C) Country- and region-specific analysis of critical mineral resources, governance, and market structures.

(D) Geopolitical and national security implications of critical mineral supply chains.

(E) Risk factors related to supply disruption, foreign ownership or control, corruption, and resource nationalism.

(F) Tools and best practices for advancing United States commercial, economic security, and strategic objectives related to critical minerals through diplomatic engagement.”.

Chapter 7 of title I (22 U.S.C. 4021 et seq.), as amended by sections 608, 609, 610, and 611, is further amended by adding at the end the following:

“713. Training at consular posts.—

(a) In general.— The Secretary shall require that each Service officer, including temporary duty assignments and permanent change of stations, assigned to perform consular duties complete mandatory, post-specific consular training—

(1) upon arrival at post, conducted concurrently with the performance of official duties through supervised, on-the-job, and practical instruction, and building upon the consular training received prior to departure to such post; and

(2) before independently adjudicating visas, or otherwise performing services for United States citizens.

(b) Training requirement.— The training required under subsection (a) shall—

(1) be conducted at post;

(2) have a duration of not less than four weeks, unless shortened by the Secretary based on demonstrated prior experience or exigent operational needs;

(3) be completed under the supervision of experienced consular officers designated by the chief of mission or principal officer;

(4) be documented as part of the officer’s official training and assignment record; and

(5) be conducted by an individual at post with an equivalent or superior rank or responsibility level as the officer.

(c) Training content.— The required training shall include instruction and supervised practice in—

(1) country- and post-specific visa adjudication trends, risks, and fraud patterns;

(2) applicable immigration law, regulations, and Department guidance as applied at post;

(3) local processing procedures and workflow;

(4) use of consular information systems;

(5) coordination with locally employed staff and relevant host-nation entities;

(6) national security screening considerations; and

(7) quality assurance and error prevention measures.

(d) Limitation on independent adjudication.— A Service officer may not independently adjudicate visas or perform unsupervised consular functions until the officer has—

(1) completed the training required under subsection (b); or

(2) received a written waiver from the chief of mission or principal officer based on prior consular experience and demonstrated proficiency.

(e) Responsibilities.—

(1) Chiefs of mission and principal officers.— Chiefs of mission and Principal officers shall ensure compliance with the training requirements of this section at post.

(2) Consular section leadership.— Consular Section Leadership shall develop, maintain and update as necessary post-specific training plans of this section consistent with Department standards.

(3) Secretary.— The Secretary shall issue Department-wide guidance to standardize minimum expectations with respect to training under this section and provide for post-level flexibility.

(f) Performance and workload considerations.— The time spent by a Service officer in required post-specific consular training—

(1) shall be considered official duty time; and

(2) shall not be treated as a negative factor in performance evaluations.

(g) Oversight.— The Secretary—

(1) shall periodically review compliance with the requirements of this section; and

(2) may take corrective action in cases in which training requirements are not being adequately implemented.”.

Chapter 7 of title I (22 U.S.C. 4021 et seq.), as amended by sections 608, 609, 610, 611, and 612, is further amended by adding at the end the following:

“714. Strengthening diplomatic security training standards.—

(a) In general.— The Secretary of State, acting through the Director of the National Foreign Affairs Training Center, shall establish and maintain Department-wide standards for diplomatic security training to ensure such training is mission-relevant, integrated across threat vectors, and responsive to evolving risk environments.

(b) Required elements.— The training standards established pursuant to subsection (a) shall—

(1) integrate physical security, counterintelligence, cybersecurity, technical security and countersurveillance, legal and use of force requirements, and fraud-related threats into a unified training framework;

(2) incorporate post-specific risk factors, including high-risk, high-threat environments;

(3) ensure consistency in training quality and requirements across bureaus, posts, and personnel categories; and

(4) be reviewed and updated not less frequently than once every three years.

(c) Coordination.— The Secretary shall ensure that the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, the Bureau of Diplomatic Technology, the National Foreign Affairs Training Center, and other relevant bureaus of the Department coordinate in the establishment and implementation of training standards under this section.”.

Chapter 7 of title I (22 U.S.C. 4021 et seq.), as amended by sections 608, 609, 610, 611, 612, and 613, is further amended by adding at the end the following:

“715 Mandatory crisis leadership and emergency management training program for senior personnel.—

(a) In general.— The Secretary shall establish and implement a mandatory crisis leadership and emergency management training program for members of the Service assigned to senior leadership positions at United States diplomatic and consular posts.

(b) Covered positions.— The training program required by subsection (a) applies to—

(1) chiefs of mission;

(2) deputy chiefs of mission;

(3) principal officers; and

(4) such other senior positions as the Secretary may designate.

(c) Condition of assignment.—

(1) In general.— Except as provided in paragraph (2), an individual may not be assigned to a position described in subsection (b) unless the individual has successfully completed the training required under this section.

(2) Waiver.— The Secretary may waive the requirement under paragraph (1) on a case-by-case basis in exigent circumstances, except that an individual granted such a waiver shall complete the required training as soon as practicable after assignment.”.

Chapter 7 of title I (22 U.S.C. 4021 et seq.), as amended by sections 608, 609, 610, 611, 612, 613, and 614, is further amended by adding at the end the following:

“716. Cybersecurity, technology, and artificial intelligence training.—

(a) In general.— The Secretary shall require each member of the Service, including a career member, a career candidate, a non-career appointee, a chief of mission, and a deputy chief of mission, to complete, on an annual basis, training on cybersecurity, technology use, and artificial intelligence governance.

(b) Matters To be included.— The training required under subsection (a) shall include, at a minimum—

(1) cybersecurity hygiene and threat awareness;

(2) phishing, social engineering, and insider threat risks;

(3) safeguarding classified information and sensitive but unclassified information;

(4) secure handling, storage, and transportation of Government-issued hardware and electronic devices, including while assigned to a post abroad;

(5) requirements for the use of Department-approved software, cloud systems, and collaboration platforms;

(6) risks associated with the use of personal devices, removable media, and foreign telecommunications networks;

(7) reporting requirements for a suspected cyber incident or technology compromise;

(8) responsible use, security implications, and data protection requirements relating to artificial intelligence systems and automated tools;

(9) semiconductor supply chain security, technology dependency risks, and foreign sourcing vulnerabilities relevant to diplomatic operations and national security; and

(10) responsibilities of personnel under Department cybersecurity, technology management, and artificial intelligence governance policies.

(c) Role-Specific and advanced training.— The Secretary shall establish enhanced cybersecurity and technology training requirements for—

(1) a chief of mission and a deputy chief of mission, including training on post-level technology risk management and artificial intelligence oversight;

(2) senior bureau leadership, including governance responsibilities and technology risk accountability;

(3) personnel with system administrator or other privileged network access;

(4) personnel assigned to a high-risk or high-threat post;

(5) personnel serving in information technology, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data management, or security-related career tracks; and

(6) personnel responsible for the procurement, management, or oversight of an information technology system or an artificial intelligence tool.

(d) Pre-Assignment and device security abroad.— The Secretary shall ensure that a member of the Service assigned to a post abroad receives pre-assignment training on—

(1) secure device usage in a foreign environment;

(2) counterintelligence risks associated with foreign infrastructure;

(3) secure communications practices; and

(4) protection of Government hardware from compromise, tampering, or unauthorized access.

(e) Integration into career development.— The requirements under this section shall be incorporated into pre-assignment training, leadership training, tradecraft instruction, and professional development programs under this chapter.

(f) Compliance and accountability.— The Secretary shall ensure that completion of required training under this section is tracked and recorded and may consider such completion as part of performance evaluations and eligibility for leadership assignments.”.

Chapter 7 of title I (22 U.S.C. 4021 et seq.), as amended by sections 608, 609, 610, 611, 612, 613, 614, and 615, is further amended by adding at the end the following:

“717. Veterans Innovation Partnership Fellowship Program; placement and conversion support.—

(a) In general.— The Secretary shall establish policies and procedures to improve placement and hiring outcomes for participants in the Veterans Innovation Partnership Fellowship, including structured pathways to employment within the Department.

(b) Elements.— The policies and procedures required under subsection (a) should include—

(1) designation of a bureau or office responsible for coordinating post-fellowship placement efforts;

(2) procedures to match a fellow with employment opportunities in the Service, as appropriate;

(3) guidance to bureaus on the use of existing hiring authorities to facilitate the conversion of a fellow into a permanent or term position;

(4) mentorship and career counseling for a fellow during and after the fellowship period;

(5) tracking and evaluation of conversion rates and employment outcomes; and

(6) procedures to facilitate placement of a fellow into a position under the Veterans and Foreign Service Pathway Program, where applicable.”.

Chapter 7 of title I (22 U.S.C. 4021 et seq.), as amended by sections 608, 609, 610, 611, 612, 613, 614, 615, and 616, is further amended by adding at the end the following:

“718. Reviews of the Foreign Service career tracks.—

(a) In general.— The Secretary shall convene an independent commission to review the structure, relevance, and effectiveness of the Service’s career tracks.

(b) Composition.—

(1) In general.— The commission shall be composed of individuals who are to be selected from—

(A) the Department, including personnel other than those assigned to the Bureau of Human Resources;

(B) other relevant Federal departments and agencies as the Secretary determines appropriate;

(C) former Service officers;

(D) academia; and

(E) the private sector.

(2) Congressional selection.— The chair and ranking member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate shall each select one individual to be a member of the commission.

(3) Balanced perspective requirement.— Individuals shall be selected to be members of the commission to ensure a balanced perspective on diplomatic priorities, Department personnel needs, and evolving global challenges.

(c) Scope of review.— The commission shall—

(1) assess the alignment of existing career tracks with current and anticipated United States diplomatic priorities, national security objectives, and global trends;

(2) evaluate recommendations to add, consolidate, eliminate, modify, or otherwise affect, career tracks of the Service; and

(3) consider any other matters related to career track structure, qualifications, standards, assignment processes, promotion precepts, track-specific training, or workforce planning that the commission determined relevant to the effectiveness of the Service.

(d) Report.— Not later than one year after the date on which the commission is convened, the commission shall submit to the Secretary, the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a report containing—

(1) the findings and assessments under subsection (c);

(2) any recommendations for regulatory, or administrative action to improve the Service; and

(3) a description of the composition of the membership of the commission as required by subsection (b).

(e) Inapplicability of other law.— The provisions of chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code, and chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code, shall not apply to either the composition or the operation of the Commission.

(f) Sunset.— The commission shall terminate on the date that is 30 days after the date on which the report required by subsection (d) has been submitted in accordance with such subsection.”.

Chapter 7 of title I (22 U.S.C. 4021 et seq.), as amended by sections 608, 609, 610, 611, 612, 613, 614, 615, 616, and 617, is further amended by adding at the end the following:

“719. Integration of Foreign Service recruitment into military transition programs.—

(a) In general.— The Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall establish a formal recruitment program within military transition programs to support entry into the Service of veterans.

(b) Matters To be included.— The program required by subsection (a) shall—

(1) provide information, guidance, and preparatory resources to facilitate participation in the Veterans and Foreign Service Pathway Program established under section 313; and

(2) support the development of a sustained pipeline of candidates aligned with workforce needs of the Department.

(c) Implementation.— In carrying out the program required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall—

(1) integrate Service career information, including Diplomatic Security roles, into Transition Assistance Program curriculum and materials;

(2) conduct targeted outreach at military installations and transition centers;

(3) identify and refer qualified candidates to the program required by subsection (a) and any pilot hiring authority established under section 313; and

(4) provide pre-application guidance and onboarding support to prospective candidates.

(d) Rule of construction.— Nothing in this section may be construed to create a separate or noncompetitive hiring process for members of the Armed Forces or veterans.”.

Section 1202(c) (22 U.S.C. 4141a(c)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1), by striking “Students enrolled full-time in institutions of higher education” and inserting “Students enrolled, whether full-time or at least half-time, in institutions of higher education,”; and

(2) by adding at end the following:

“(4) The Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, ensure that recruitment efforts include outreach to potential applicants enrolled at community colleges, vocational or technical institutions, and other nontraditional institutions of higher education.”.

(a) Establishment.— Not later than nine months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall establish a Diplomatic Reserve Corps Pilot Program (in this section referred to as the “Pilot Program”) in the Department of State to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of maintaining a reserve cadre of trained personnel available for temporary active service in support of foreign affairs contingencies.

(b) Purpose.— The Pilot Program shall—

(1) provide a surge workforce to support diplomatic operations during crises, evacuations, armed conflicts, natural disasters, and other contingencies affecting United States interests abroad;

(2) assess recruitment, training, readiness, deployment, and retention requirements for a permanent Diplomatic Reserve Corps; and

(3) identify authorities, resources, and organizational structures necessary to sustain such a corps.

(c) Membership.— The Secretary of State may appoint to the Pilot Program retired members of the Foreign Service.

(d) Initial strength.— The Secretary of State shall recruit and maintain not fewer than 250 members in the Pilot Program during the first year of the Pilot Program and may increase membership by up to 250 additional members annually for the following three fiscal years.

(e) Reserve Corps structure.— Of the members of the Pilot Program appointed by the Secretary of State pursuant to subsection (c)—

(1) not more than 30 percent shall be appointed at ranks equivalent to salary class 1 and salary class 2 of the Foreign Service schedule; and

(2) those not appointed at ranks equivalent to salary class 1 and salary class 2 of the Foreign Service schedule shall be appointed at ranks equivalent to salary class 3 and salary class 4 of the Foreign Service schedule.

(f) Training.— Members of the Pilot Program shall complete such orientation, security, medical, and readiness training as the Secretary of State determines appropriate, including training conducted through the National Foreign Affairs Training Center, the Foreign Affairs Security Training Center, and other Department of State facilities.

(g) Activation.— The Secretary of State may activate members of the Pilot Program for temporary service in support of diplomatic operations, crisis response, evacuation efforts, disaster response, consular surge requirements, or other foreign affairs contingencies.

(h) Evaluation.— The Secretary of State shall establish readiness standards and conduct annual evaluations of the training status and availability for deployment of each member of the Pilot Program.

(i) Initial plan to Congress.— Not later than six months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a report detailing the Secretary’s plans and timeline to establish, structure, and implement the Pilot Program.

(j) Final report to Congress.—

(1) In general.— Not later than three years after the establishment of the Pilot Program, the Secretary of State shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a report evaluating the Pilot Program and providing recommendations regarding establishment of a permanent Diplomatic Reserve Corps.

(2) Matters to be included.— The report required by paragraph (1) shall additionally include an assessment on expanding eligible appointment to the Diplomatic Reserve Corps to—

(A) retired Civil Service employees of the Department of State;

(B) retired employees of other Federal agencies possessing relevant skills and experience; and

(C) qualified individuals from outside the Federal Government possessing critical language, regional, technical, medical, security, consular, management, or diplomatic expertise.

(k) Termination.— The Pilot Program shall terminate on the date that is three after the date of the enactment of this Act, unless reauthorized by Congress.