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Allows the United States to strengthen how it prevents and responds to conflict by expanding who does planning and monitoring under the Global Fragility Act, authorizing Economic Support Fund money for monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL), and requiring senior-level staffing and interagency coordination across State, Defense, and related agencies. It updates how the President may add priority countries, requires annual interagency reviews of country/regional plans, directs the State Department to plan broader application of the strategy, and clarifies that funds may cover administrative and MEL-related expenses. The bill increases the formal role of the Department of Defense and the Development Finance Corporation in implementing the Global Fragility Strategy, sets staffing and resourcing expectations (subject to appropriations), and adds new reporting and notification requirements to Congress intended to improve alignment of diplomatic, development, and security activities in fragile places worldwide.
Amounts appropriated or otherwise made available to carry out chapter 4 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (the Economic Support Fund) may be expended for monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities in countries and regions selected by the President pursuant to section 505(a) of the Global Fragility Act of 2019. This authorization applies notwithstanding any other provision of law for programs funded from the Prevention and Stabilization Fund (section 509(a) of the Global Fragility Act) in any fiscal year and notwithstanding related programs funded by other agencies to implement the Global Fragility Strategy (section 504).
The Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, shall appoint a senior Department of Defense official to lead the monitoring, evaluation, and learning efforts described in subsection (a).
The Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, shall make available sufficient staffing and other resources to carry out the monitoring, evaluation, and learning efforts in accordance with section 507 of the Global Fragility Act of 2019, as amended by section 6.
Congress states that integrating all development, diplomatic, and defense tools into the Global Fragility Strategy is crucial to achieving the national security interests of the United States.
Congress specifies that this integration should include all forms of diplomatic engagement and security cooperation.
Amends subsection (b) of 22 U.S.C. 9808 by striking and inserting language in the subsection header and by striking and inserting language in paragraph (2).
Amends section 507 (22 U.S.C. 9806) to (a) add Department of Defense implementation responsibilities and a provision to mobilize private sector investment through United States Development Finance Corporation investment targets, (b) revise the section's heading/lead to reference the President, and (c) add a new staffing subsection designating the Counselor of the Department of State to lead implementation and requiring regional affairs bureaus to delegate employees to assist.
Primary federal actors affected include the Department of State, Department of Defense, and the Development Finance Corporation; these agencies will need to dedicate senior leadership, staff, and resources to planning, monitoring, and coordinating Global Fragility Strategy activities. The bill increases formal interagency coordination and creates recurring review requirements, which should improve alignment of diplomatic, development, and security programs but will require time and management bandwidth to implement.
Priority countries and their governments will be directly affected: some countries could be newly designated as priorities (under a one-year window for additional designations) and will be subject to expanded U.S. planning and MEL activity; conversely, the State Department may suspend plans where fragility indicators no longer apply or cooperation ends. Local communities in fragile and conflict-affected states could benefit if improved MEL and coordination lead to more effective, evidence-driven stabilization and development programs; outcomes depend on follow-through, funding levels, and implementation quality.
Civilian foreign assistance and diplomatic staff may see new reporting, planning, and staffing expectations; Defense personnel will take on increased MEL responsibilities tied to stabilization work. The Development Finance Corporation will have clarified responsibilities, potentially altering investment or project engagement in fragile settings. Because staffing directives are “subject to appropriations,” agencies may need new funding or to reprogram existing resources to meet requirements; failure to secure resources could limit the law’s practical effects.
Potential trade-offs and risks: expanding DoD and security-sector involvement in stabilization can speed operational support and protection but raises concerns about blurring civilian-military lines and mission creep. Better MEL should improve program effectiveness, but implementation will require sustained political will, interagency cooperation, and adequate funding to achieve intended results.
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Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Introduced August 1, 2025 by Christopher A. Coons · Last progress August 1, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Introduced in Senate