The Department of State Redesign

For years, Congress has sat on the sidelines when it comes to the State Department, and what do we have to show for it? Antiquated IT systems, personnel shortages that make it harder to address crises or allow for professional development. Traditional responsibilities of the Department moving to other agencies, like the Pentagon, distracting from its core diplomatic mission. I am glad that the President sees the necessity for more funds for DoD, but we don't want it at the expense of the State Department, the expense of diplomacy, the expense of making sure our Embassies are safe. In 2020, the Foreign Service Act will be 40 years old. It was written during the Cold War and the world has changed. We do need to modernize the Department. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has started a process, as those at State will tell you, where he is focusing on listening to the diplomats and listening to the employees, our foreign service officers. Many employees, he reports, have asked for more responsibility and, in turn, more accountability for their performance. They also want better training throughout their careers and a modern IT infrastructure. So I welcome Secretary Tillerson's efforts to address the Department's aging technology infrastructure, and to strengthen the diversity of the Department's workforce, including increased recruitment. He has focused specifically on veterans and minority candidates. But as a country with global challenges and opportunities, I do have continued concerns about whether our diplomats and development specialists will have the resources they need. We should not and cannot lose sight of the fact that our diplomacy and assistance improves our national security, improves our economic well-being for a relatively small amount of money.