Rep. Sara Jacobs Pushes to Strengthen Capacity and Effectiveness at State Department
As part of a House Foreign Affairs Committee markup, Rep. Sara Jacobs voted to pass the Foreign Service Modernization Act weeks ago and voted against H.R. 9087 today.
Rep. Sara Jacobs said: “At a moment when the world feels like it’s on fire – when wars are escalating, alliances are fracturing, and more people are suffering – the State Department needs more expertise, capacity, and funding, not less. Following the Trump Administration’s arbitrary and reckless slashing of the State Department, the Foreign Service Modernization Act takes important steps to bolster the diplomatic corps’ ability to surge resources and respond to emergencies, while strengthening recruitment and retention. But H.R. 9087 injects unnecessary culture wars into the State Department and makes permanent the efforts to dismantle USAID and its workforce. I will continue to do everything in my power to help restore U.S. credibility and capacity to lead responsibly around the world.”
Rep. Sara Jacobs secured the following provisions:
- Shifting the culture at the State Department away from the “bunker mentality” by removing bureaucratic and security barriers that prevent Foreign Service Officers from conducting direct diplomacy in high-risk environments, as part of Rep. Jacobs’ and Rep. Baumgartner’s bipartisan Expeditionary Diplomacy Renewal Act
- Establishing a structured training framework for Foreign Service Officers, including protected training periods, training at different career stages, and strategic planning training
- Expanding the instruction of African-origin languages so Foreign Service Officers are better equipped to speak with local communities, advance U.S. priorities, and demonstrate that the U.S. prioritizes thoughtful engagement on the African continent
- Reforms to improve the maintenance of foreign language skills within the Foreign Service
- Reporting on acquisition and assistance personnel within the State Department to ensure adequate staffing for the management of foreign assistance
- Reporting on the Department’s use of the dissent channel to improve the policymaking process
- Establishing guardrails on the use of artificial intelligence in Foreign Service hiring decisions
- Requiring the Secretary of State to facilitate joint duty assignments for Foreign Service Officers at other Departments and agencies
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