This bill updates the State Department’s office that fights international drugs and crime. It sets who the top official reports to, and clearly lists what that office must do. The office would coordinate U.S. efforts overseas, fight drug trafficking and illicit money networks, and work with many agencies to take on cartels and other cross-border crime that threatens Americans. It allows rewards for tips and captures, with up to $25 million available and at least 20% of the office’s budget going to these reward programs. It also adds training and vetting for foreign police and border officials, limits justice-system aid to no more than 10% of grants, and calls for better tracking of results with a searchable database. These changes are meant to focus resources on the worst criminal groups, including those tied to terrorism, while not limiting other U.S. agencies’ own powers.

Key points

• Who is affected: The State Department’s anti-drug and anti-crime office, U.S. law enforcement partners, and foreign police and justice systems that get U.S. support.
• What changes: More coordination across agencies; targeted action against cartels and other transnational crimes (like human trafficking, weapons and wildlife smuggling, money laundering); training with vetting for foreign officers; a cap of 10% for justice-system grants; up to $25 million in rewards and a requirement that at least 20% of the office’s budget goes to rewards; and better program tracking and metrics beyond just drug seizures.
• Other notes: These updates do not reduce the powers of other federal agencies.