S. 4719 — State Department Integrity and Transparency Act

This section states the sense of Congress that detailed knowledge of foreign policy formulation and Department of State operations is vital for Chiefs of Mission, Assistant Secretaries, and other senior officials to advance U.S. national security and competitiveness abroad; that the People’s Republic of China and other competitors are rapidly expanding their diplomatic presences; and that the Department requires staffing by empowered, nonpartisan foreign policy professionals alongside qualified and vetted political appointees.

This section requires that not fewer than 75 percent of Assistant Secretaries in the Department of State have served in the Senior Foreign Service or the Senior Executive Service. It extends to assistant secretary nominees the existing disclosure requirements for chief of mission nominees, mandating that reports on demonstrated competence detail the nominee’s knowledge of the principal language or dialect and the nominee’s understanding of the history, culture, economics, politics, interests, and relevant business ties of the country, region, or institution.

This section requires individuals nominated as chief of mission, ambassador at large, or minister to disclose all bundled contributions they facilitated, in addition to contributions from the nominee and immediate family members. It defines bundled contribution, contribution, and immediate family. The section also directs the Secretary of State to publish each report and Certificate of Competency on a publicly available Department of State website.

This section requires the President to certify to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations that any chief of mission nominee meets the qualifications under paragraph (1) and that contributions by the nominee or family members played no role in the nomination.

This section limits special appointments by the President and all schedule B or schedule C positions at a United States diplomatic mission to 90 days and prohibits any individual from holding more than one such position in a single calendar year. The limitations take effect on January 1, 2029.