Diplomacy

Our diplomatic presence in other countries also allows us to strengthen our relationships and compete for influence. Policymakers must ensure that the State Department, as the principal agency in charge of U.S. diplomacy, is effectively staffed, trained, and organized to meet the unparalleled global challenges facing us.

Call on Congress to pass a State Department authorization act that empowers U.S. diplomats, at least maintains America’s diplomatic footprint abroad, and promotes greater U.S. leadership in multilateral institutions. 

The Latest

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has moved forward with drastic plans to gut the State Department, haphazardly terminating over a thousand nonpartisan diplomats and foreign policy professionals while reorganizing the agency to diminish its capacity to advance democracy and human rights abroad. Under Secretary Rubio, morale at the State Department has plummeted, and coupled with the hiring freeze and delays in the promotion process, the ability for the Department to promote American interests globally is cratering.  

In Congress, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Jim Risch and Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen have introduced modest State Department authorization legislation as an amendment to the annual defense bill. Their legislation, which includes several new reporting requirements and minor tweaks to existing law, could lay the groundwork for more significant changes in the future, such as establishing a diplomatic reserve corps. Meanwhile, the House Foreign Affairs Committee under Chair Brian Mast is expected to consider its own State Department authorization bill later this fall, though Ranking Member Gregory Meeks has expressed doubts about whether the process will result in bipartisan legislation.