Sponsors
The bill strengthens and standardizes counterintelligence training for Diplomatic Security—improving agent capability and safety at higher-risk posts—while imposing additional training costs and creating the risk of temporary staffing shortfalls at some diplomatic posts.
Diplomatic Security special agents (and thus U.S. diplomatic missions) will receive mandated, standardized counterintelligence training under the State Office of Counterintelligence, improving the workforce's ability to detect and counter foreign intelligence threats.
Agents assigned to high-risk, high-threat posts will get targeted counterintelligence instruction, which can enhance their personal safety and the safety/mission success of overseas posts.
Short-notice or frequent training requirements could temporarily reduce agent availability for field duties, straining diplomatic security staffing at some posts and potentially raising local security risks.
Mandating additional training will increase costs for the Department of State, which could require reallocation of resources or higher appropriations paid by taxpayers.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires mandatory counterintelligence training from the State Department Office of Counterintelligence for Diplomatic Security agents in CI roles or at high‑risk/high‑threat posts.
Requires Diplomatic Security special agents who serve in primary counterintelligence roles or who are assigned to high‑risk, high‑threat posts to receive mandatory, substantive counterintelligence training delivered by the Department of State’s Office of Counterintelligence. Also updates the governing law’s table of contents to insert the new training requirement into the statutory sequence.
Introduced August 19, 2025 by Michael Lawler · Last progress August 19, 2025