H.R. 5244 — To provide for the authorities of the Secretary of State.

This section authorizes the Secretary of State to establish in the Office of the Secretary positions to support the Secretary’s situational awareness and decision-making in Department management. Such positions may include (1) chief of staff, (2) counselor, and (3) executive secretariat.

This section establishes the position of United States Ambassador to the United Nations, appointed by the President with Senate advice and consent, who holds the rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, represents the United States in the UN Security Council, performs other duties as directed by the President, and reports to and collaborates with the Secretary of State to implement unified U.S. policy in the UN system. The section directs the Ambassador to coordinate U.S. participation in the UN system for foreign policy purposes, including (1) identifying, reporting on, and holding accountable UN Member States engaging in malign influence operations (i.e., coordinated actions by a Member State to advance its interests inconsistent with the UN Charter) and UN employees acting without impartiality; (2) opposing the election of nationals from such Member States as heads of UN entities; (3) supporting Taiwan's membership or meaningful participation in relevant UN entities; and (4) supporting Presidential responses to malign influence operations. The section defines "employee," "malign influence operations," "Member State," and "United Nations entity" (i.e., the General Assembly, Economic and Social Council, Security Council, Secretariat, related organizations, specialized agencies, or subsidiary bodies).

This section establishes the United States Mission to the United Nations, to be constituted by the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations (as Chief of Mission), Senate-confirmed representatives to the UN's principal organs and nuclear energy or disarmament bodies, and their deputies, staffs, and offices. It requires the Mission to coordinate with the Department of State's Bureau of International Organization Affairs and funding bureaus to implement a unified U.S. policy in the UN system; directs representatives to vote in accordance with Presidential instructions transmitted by the Secretary of State; and assigns the Chief of Mission responsibility for coordinating Mission activities and administering personnel, budget, funds, and central services in accordance with Secretary-prescribed rules.

This section authorizes six bureaus and offices within the Department to support the Secretary’s and Deputy Secretary’s situational awareness and decision-making in Department management: (1) a Bureau of Legislative Affairs; (2) a Bureau of Intelligence and Research; (3) an Office of Policy Planning; (4) an Office of the Legal Adviser; (5) an Office of Protocol; and (6) an Office of the Spokesperson. The section further authorizes the Secretary to delegate coordination of these entities to the Deputy Secretary.

This section establishes in the Department of State an Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs responsible to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary for congressional matters and other duties designated by the Secretary. The section specifies the Assistant Secretary's responsibilities, including (1) presenting the Department's legislative program; (2) coordinating with Congress on legislative matters; (3) providing guidance to Department bureaus on legislative issues; (4) managing correspondence and reports to Congress, except for treaties, anti-deficiency notifications, certain reprogramming notifications, and other items directed by law, executive order, or the Secretary; and (5) supporting congressional foreign travel. The section further directs the Secretary to establish a Bureau of Legislative Affairs headed by the Assistant Secretary, with a Deputy Assistant Secretary for House Affairs and a Deputy Assistant Secretary for Senate Affairs, both appointed by the President.

This section establishes in the Department of State an Assistant Secretary for Intelligence and Research responsible (1) to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary for the Department's intelligence and research functions and other duties designated by the Secretary and (2) for coordinating analysis and dissemination of intelligence products to support foreign policy, including oversight of coordination with the intelligence community, advocacy for the Department's collection requirements, and ensuring collaboration and information sharing. It further directs the Secretary to establish a Bureau of Intelligence and Research to oversee collection, analysis, and dissemination of intelligence and research for U.S. foreign policy, with the Assistant Secretary serving as its head. (As background, the Bureau of Intelligence and Research is currently an element of the intelligence community that produces all-source intelligence analysis for Department policymakers.)

This section establishes in the Department of State a Director of Policy Planning, responsible to the Deputy Secretary and Secretary for independent policy analysis, guidance, counsel, and policymaking coordination—including supporting the Secretary’s priorities, leading long-term planning initiatives, and promoting the Secretary’s strategic narrative. The section further directs the Secretary to establish an Office of Policy Planning, headed by the Director, to shape, develop, and articulate the Secretary’s strategic policy and diplomatic priorities across the Department.

This section establishes in the Department a Legal Adviser, responsible to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary for providing advice on all legal issues related to the Department's mission—including formulating international law—and for other duties as designated by the Secretary. The section specifies additional responsibilities for the Legal Adviser, including maintaining observation and coordination of legal implications in the Department's foreign policy activities; participating in international negotiations, representing the United States at related conferences, and serving on treaty implementation commissions; assisting with legal matters at interagency meetings, congressional hearings, and private organization meetings; and providing consultation on domestic litigation involving the Department, including coordination with other departments and assistance to the Department of Justice. The section further directs the Secretary to establish the Office of the Legal Adviser—headed by the Legal Adviser—to represent and advise the Secretary and Department on legal policy issues connected to U.S. foreign policy and Department work.

This section establishes in the Department of State (1) the position of United States Chief of Protocol, responsible to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary for diplomatic etiquette matters and for providing protocol guidance to the President, Vice President, Secretary, and other senior officials; and (2) the Office of Protocol, headed by the Chief of Protocol, to manage diplomatic and consular protocols including planning official ceremonies, diplomatic visits, and related engagements.

This section establishes the position of Spokesperson of the Department of State, responsible to the Secretary for domestic communications and other designated duties. The section specifies the Spokesperson's responsibilities, including maintaining oversight of domestic communications related to foreign policy; directing all Department communications for domestic consumption; serving as the official domestic press spokesperson; advising the Secretary on domestic press relations; and supporting the Secretary in domestic media engagements. The section further directs the Secretary to establish an Office of the Spokesperson, headed by the Spokesperson, to perform prescribed domestic communications functions.

This section establishes a Red Team Capability within the Department to inform its crisis response and contingency planning. It directs convening of the red team by the Department's Policy Planning Staff and Crisis Management and Strategy Unit for general meetings or by the Secretary or other principals for specific reviews as needed, and requires submission of a report on findings to the Policy Planning Staff not later than 21 days after convening.

This section authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of State for the Department of State for FY2026 and FY2027 to fulfill missions and responsibilities, including allocations to (1) the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations for U.S. Mission to the United Nations missions under subtitle A, (2) positions described in subtitle B, and (3) bureaus, offices, and entities described in subtitle C. It requires the Secretary to submit to the House and Senate Committees on Foreign Affairs/Foreign Relations and Appropriations, not later than 10 days after the President's annual budget submission under 31 U.S.C. 1105, a prioritized report on unfunded priorities—defined as Department programs, activities, or mission requirements not included in the President's budget but necessary to fulfill foreign policy or national security objectives or Joint Strategic Plan goals that the Secretary would have recommended if additional resources were available or the requirement emerged afterward—including for each priority a description, recommended funding amount, and budget details (i.e., appropriation account, expenditure center, project, and subprojects).

This section directs the Office of Law Revision Counsel to classify the sections of this title into sections 6 through 35 of title 22, United States Code, and to maintain under editorial notes the legislative history of repealed law previously occupying those sections.