February 14, 2022
The U.S. Department of State: Background and Selected Issues
for the 117th Congress
Background
Congress has historically used State Department
Created by an act of Congress in 1789, the U.S. Department
authorization bills to authorize funding for the State
of State (State Department) is the executive branch’s lead
Department and oversee State Department operations. In
foreign affairs agency and the United States’ oldest
doing so, it often used these measures to amend previously
executive agency. The State Department states that its
described key laws or provide new standalone measures.
mission is to “lead America’s foreign policy through
Congress has not passed a standalone, comprehensive State
diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance by advancing the
Department authorization law since 2002. However,
interests of the American people, their safety and economic
Congress attached the Department of State Authorization
prosperity.” The Secretary of State, appointed by the
Act of 2021 to the National Defense Authorization Act for
President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the
Fiscal Year 2022 (see Division E of P.L. 117-81). This law
State Department’s senior officer and the President’s
authorizes appropriations for selected purposes (including
principal foreign affairs adviser. The Secretary is supported
embassy security, construction, and maintenance) and
by about 77,000 State Department employees, including
makes several changes to State Department internal
approximately 13,000 Foreign Service personnel, 11,000
operating procedures (including required staff cooperation
Civil Service officers, and 50,000 Locally Employed Staff
with the Office of Inspector General).
(largely host country nationals working at U.S. overseas
Strategic Planning
posts).
The State Department utilizes a core strategic planning
The State Department’s Washington, D.C.-based
process intended to prioritize resources, coordinate with
organizational structure includes approximately 30 regional
interagency partners, and make informed decisions to
and functional bureaus. The six regional bureaus are
achieve what it calls “the most effective U.S. foreign policy
responsible for overseeing the operations of the State
outcomes.” The State Department considers its strategic
Department’s 275 overseas posts worldwide, including 171
plans as “foundational documents” for building its annual
Embassies and 77 Consulates General. The State
budget request to Congress.
Department also supports the foreign affairs activities of
The State Department’s core strategic planning takes place
other U.S. government entities, including the U.S. Agency
at several levels. Congress, through the Government
for International Development (USAID).
Performance and Results Act (GPRA) Modernization Act
of 2010 (P.L. 111-352), requires the State Department and
Key Laws Governing State Department
other agencies to prepare quadrennial strategic plans
Operations
outlining their goals and objectives. The State Department
Congress has provided statutory frameworks for many
and USAID fulfill this requirement through publication of
aspects of the State Department’s operations through key
shared Joint Strategic Plans (JSPs). JSPs seek to align the
laws such as:
State Department’s priorities with the executive branch’s
top level strategic documents (such as the National Security
ï‚· the State Department Basic Authorities Act of
Strategy) and also guide bureau and mission planning.
1956 (P.L. 84-885), which authorizes the State
Following publication of the JSP, the State Department’s
Department’s organizational structure, including
bureaus develop Joint Regional and Functional Bureau
senior positions such as the Secretary of State and
Strategies (JRS or FBS), while overseas missions prepare
the Deputy Secretary of State, and provides for the
country-level Integrated Country Strategies (ICS).
State Department to be administered under the
Regional bureaus are required to develop their JRS with the
Secretary’s supervision and direction;
applicable USAID regional bureau. These strategies must
ï‚· the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (P.L. 96-465),
include bureau and mission goals, or long-term ambitions
which is the statutory means through which the
that are unlikely to be fully accomplished within four years
State Department organizes and administers the
yet communicate priorities to stakeholders; bureau and
Foreign Service, providing for admission,
mission objectives that are specific, measurable end-states
appointment, promotion, and separation
that may be achieved within four years; and shorter-term
procedures; and
(1-2 years) sub-objectives tied with the day-to-day work of
ï‚·
the bureau or mission.
the Omnibus Diplomatic Security and
Antiterrorism Act of 1986 (P.L. 99-399), which
Budget
tasks the Secretary of State with, among other
Congress funds the State Department primarily through
responsibilities, providing for the evacuation of
Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related
U.S. government personnel and private citizens
Programs (SFOPS) appropriations bills, which include
when their lives are endangered abroad.
funding for State Department operations, U.S. participation
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The U.S. Department of State: Background and Selected Issues for the 117th Congress
in multilateral organizations, and development and security
ï‚· Modernization. Congress is conducting oversight
assistance, among other priorities. Figure 1 illustrates that
of Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s
in recent years, Congress has appropriated funds for SFOPS
“Modernization of American Diplomacy”
that exceed the State Department’s request.
initiative, which is intended to position the State
Figure 1. SFOPS Requests and Funding,
Department to address what he views as emerging
FY2017-FY2022
foreign policy challenges such as climate change,
global health, and cyber security. Section 5319 of
P.L. 117-81 may advance similar goals, as it
authorizes the Secretary to more easily hire
candidates with scientific, technological,
engineering, or mathematical expertise for certain
Civil Service positions. In implementing the
initiative, the State Department also notified
Congress in December 2021 of its intent to create
a Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy and a
Special Envoy for Critical and Emerging
Technology pending congressional approval.

ï‚· Overseas Evacuations. Some Members argue that
Source: CRS. Data from appropriations laws and SFOPS budget
the State Department struggled to implement its
requests.
mandate to evacuate U.S. government personnel
Note: Includes Overseas Contingency Operations and Emergency
and private citizens abroad during recent
Funding.
evacuations related to the spread of Coronavirus
Within SFOPS, the Diplomatic Programs account is the
Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the Taliban
main operating appropriation of the State Department. It
takeover of Afghanistan. Section 5704 of P.L. 117-
funds programs and functions including most domestic and
81 requires the State Department to submit a report
overseas Foreign Service and Civil Service salaries; public
evaluating the efforts of its Coronavirus
diplomacy programs; and diversity and inclusion programs.
Repatriation Task Force to repatriate U.S. citizens
Embassy Security, Construction, and Maintenance is
in response to COVID-19. Congress is also
another key operating account through which Congress
conducting oversight of ongoing Afghanistan
funds the State Department’s share of costs involved with
evacuations, including through considering
the design, construction, and maintenance of U.S.
legislation (see, for example, H.R. 6418) and
diplomatic facilities. SFOPS appropriations also fund
convening hearings and briefings with senior State
foreign assistance. Agencies such as USAID and the
Department officials.
Department of Defense manage the majority of these funds.
ï‚· Diplomatic Security and Risk Management.
However, the State Department manages some aid directly,
Some Members have expressed concern that
including a portion of the Global Health Programs
stringent security measures at overseas posts can
account that funds the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for
preclude Foreign Service officers from engaging
AIDS Relief, and maintains policy authority over most
with foreign officials, civil society groups, and
humanitarian and military assistance.
Selected Issues for Congress
others in host countries to advance U.S. interests.
Members have introduced legislation in the 117th
During the 117th Congress, some Members of Congress
Congress (see S. 669, H.R. 6034, and S. 816) to
have expressed concern regarding what they perceive as
adjust the process the State Department employs to
significant management challenges at the State Department.
investigate attacks against U.S. personnel and
Some such challenges are discussed briefly below.
property abroad to ensure it reflects an appropriate
ï‚· Diversity and Inclusion. While the Foreign
balance of empowering personnel to pursue vital
Service Act calls for a Foreign Service that is
diplomatic goals and addressing security risks.
“representative of the American people,” some
Members argue that the State Department faces
Related CRS Products
persistent challenges recruiting and retaining a
CRS Report R46995, Congressional Oversight of the State
diverse workforce. The Department of State
Department: Review of Selected Organizational Reform Efforts, by
Authorization Act of 2021 includes several
Cory R. Gil
diversity-related provisions, including those
CRS Report R45203, State Department Personnel: Background
requiring the Secretary to expand anti-
and Selected Issues for the 117th Congress, by Cory R. Gil
discrimination training for personnel and
CRS Report R46935, Department of State, Foreign Operations,
implement performance and advancement
and Related Programs: FY2022 Budget and Appropriations, by
requirements that reward efforts to foster an
Cory R. Gil , Marian L. Lawson, and Emily M. Morgenstern
inclusive environment. Some Members have
introduced other bills to advance diversity and

inclusion, including S. 3426. This measure would,
among other ends, authorize the Office of the
Cory R. Gill, Analyst in Foreign Affairs
Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer in law and
task it with ensuring recruitment and retention of a
IF12044
diverse workforce.
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The U.S. Department of State: Background and Selected Issues for the 117th Congress


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