Extends the maximum length of limited non-career appointments for State Department staff performing consular work from 5 years to 8 years, with an added 2-year option.

Official title: Expanded Consular Fellows Act of 2026

Next stop Senate floor: awaiting a vote

Timeline each lane is a chamber; dates pull from congress.gov actions

Senate

Introduced 04-JUN-2026

Referred 04-JUN-2026

Approved by committee 17-JUN-2026

Reported 27-JUL-2026

On the calendar 27-JUL-2026

Key points

Amends Section 309 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to allow limited non-career consular appointments of up to 8 years, up from 5.
Adds a new option for limited non-career consular appointments of up to 2 years.
Includes findings that consular workloads will rise with major international sporting events between 2024 and 2034 and that expanded staffing will reduce recruitment costs and delays.

AI-generated from the Reported to Senate text of 27-JUL-2026 · verify · report an error

Official CRS summary

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Committee referrals (1)

Policy area

Government Operations and Politics

Sponsor Jacky Rosen (D-NV) Cosponsors · 1

■ 1 R

1 Republican