Van Hollen, Olszewski, Bera, and Schatz Introduce Legislation to Strengthen Foreign Service Workforce

Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Congressman Johnny Olszewski (D-Md.) yesterday were joined by Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Congressman Ami Bera (D-Calif.) in introducing legislation to preserve and strengthen the U.S. Foreign Service workforce – which is responsible for advancing American interests in more than 270 embassies, consulates, and missions around the world. The Foreign Service Workforce Retention Act would provide additional re-employment rights to separated Foreign Service members, including the more than 200 members who were formally separated in May. Over the past year, the State Department has implemented a sweeping overhaul of the Foreign Service. Last July, the Department issued reduction-in-force notices to roughly 250 Foreign Service members – many of whom were abruptly placed on leave despite having decades of experience and being fully cleared, trained, and available for assignment worldwide. More than 200 of those were formally separated from the Department this month, even while it began an aggressive recruitment campaign for new Foreign Service members. The Foreign Service Workforce Retention Act provides additional rehiring rights to separated members of the Foreign Service. It would also mandate that reappointment occur within 180 days of approval and that members be incorporated into the next assignment cycle with full standing. “The expertise of our Foreign Service is vital to maintaining and advancing American interests around the world . The Trump Administration’s reckless and arbitrary purge of Foreign Service Officers has not only hurt these dedicated public servants – it has also hampered America’s diplomatic relationships and undermined our national security. This legislation will help our diplomatic corps retain critical expertise and preserve its integrity as a merit-based institution focused on advancing American interests and values,” said Senator Van Hollen, a co-founder of the Senate Foreign Service Caucus. “America’s diplomatic strength depends on the experience, judgment, and service of the professionals who represent our country around the world,” said Congressman Olszewski, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee . “These officers were sidelined without justification, even as critical diplomatic posts remain understaffed. At a time of growing global instability, laying off highly-trained foreign service professionals weakens our ability to protect American interests, support our allies, and respond to international crises. I am proud to introduce this common-sense legislation to strengthen our diplomatic corps and ensure the United States retains the expertise it has already invested in.” “As a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I’ve traveled around the world and met with the diplomats and Foreign Service officers who represent our nation overseas,” said Representative Ami Bera, M.D. “Their dedication, expertise, and institutional knowledge are invaluable to advancing American interests, supporting our allies, and responding to crises around the globe. It makes no sense to sideline experienced Foreign Service professionals while critical diplomatic posts remain understaffed. This legislation is a commonsense step to ensure we retain the talent and institutional knowledge our nation has already invested in and preserve the strength and effectiveness of America’s diplomatic workforce.” “A strong diplomatic corps is a national security asset, and we should treat it that way,” said Senator Brian Schatz. “Our bill will help us give this expert workforce more opportunities to serve and support U.S. interests around the world.” “This bill comes at a critical moment. More than 200 additional Foreign Service members were recently separated, deepening the workforce challenges facing America’s diplomatic corps, said John Dinkelman, President of the American Foreign Service Association . AFSA thanks members of Congress for advancing a needed update to the Foreign Service Act that would remove an unnecessary barrier and give the department another option to bring needed talent back into service.”