The "Defending American Diplomacy Act" requires congressional approval and a detailed plan from the Secretary of State before the State Department can implement any reorganization, ensuring transparency and minimizing potential negative impacts on U.S. foreign policy and personnel.
Sydney Kamlager-Dove
Representative
CA-37
The "Defending American Diplomacy Act" requires congressional approval for any Department of State reorganization and mandates the Secretary of State to submit detailed plans assessing the impact of such changes. It ensures transparency and accountability by requiring a thorough analysis of potential risks, effects on foreign policy, and workforce implications. The Act also restricts federal funds for the Department of Government Efficiency and official travel by politically appointed officials if reorganizations are implemented without proper authorization.
State Department Shake-ups Need Congress's OK Under New Bill: Detailed Plans Required Before Any Reorganization
This bill, the "Defending American Diplomacy Act," puts a new process in place for any major changes at the U.S. Department of State. Essentially, it says the State Department can't reorganize its structure, roles, or responsibilities unless Congress first passes a specific law approving it. Think of it as needing a permission slip from Capitol Hill before rearranging the furniture.
Congressional Green Light Required
The core of this act is straightforward: Section 2 prohibits the State Department from moving forward with any "reorganization" without explicit statutory authorization from Congress. This means big shifts – the kind already requiring consultation under existing law (Public Law 118-47, section 7063, as referenced in Section 4) – now need a thumbs-up via a new law. It's an extra layer of oversight designed to give elected officials a direct say before the agency responsible for foreign policy undergoes significant internal changes.
Show Your Work: The Detailed Plan Mandate
Before Congress even considers giving the green light, the Secretary of State has homework to do. Section 3 mandates a comprehensive plan submitted to key House and Senate committees (Foreign Affairs/Relations and Appropriations). This isn't just a quick memo; it requires a deep dive into:
- The 'Why' and 'How': Justifying the changes and detailing impacts on current roles and staff.
- New Skills: Planning for any new responsibilities the Department might take on.
- Real-World Impact: Analyzing effects on everything from embassy operations and visa processing times to military cooperation, intelligence, and foreign aid.
- Strategic Goals: Explaining how the changes help the Department do its job better.
- Risk Assessment: Identifying potential downsides, like how rivals might exploit changes or which diplomatic relationships could be strained.
- Smooth Transition: Laying out a timeline and steps to minimize disruption, including detailed plans for handling affected employees (reassignment, retraining, or termination with compensation).
- Legal Check: Certifying the plan follows all federal laws, especially those protecting employees.
This detailed planning aims to ensure any reorganization is thoroughly vetted for its potential consequences on America's global standing and the people carrying out diplomatic work.
The Accountability Hammer
What happens if the State Department tries to reorganize without this congressional approval? Section 2 includes consequences. If the Comptroller General confirms a reorganization happened without the required law, federal funds can be cut off for any activities of a newly created "Department of Government Efficiency" (though the bill doesn't establish this department, it anticipates such a possibility in a reorganization) and for official travel by politically appointed State Department officials. This financial penalty serves as an enforcement mechanism to ensure the new oversight process is followed.