Press Releases

Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA), House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY), Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-NV), and Congressman James Walkinshaw (D-VA) today introduced the Foreign Service Test-Free Reentry Act to help rebuild America’s diplomatic corps by eliminating unnecessary and unprecedented barriers for experienced Foreign Service Officers who were involuntarily separated during the Trump Administration's mass reductions in force (RIF) beginning in January 2025. The legislation would allow eligible officers to return to service without having to retake the same written and oral entry exams they already passed before their service.

Normally, Foreign Service Officers reappointed within five years of leaving the Service are not required to retake the Foreign Service Officer Test or its written and oral examination components to rejoin the Service after separation. The Foreign Service Test-Free Reentry Act would authorize the Secretary of State to waive those entry examinations when reappointing eligible career Foreign Service Officers who were involuntarily separated through RIFs between January 20, 2025, and January 31, 2030. The legislation applies only to career Foreign Service Officers who were serving in good standing at the time of their dismissal.

“President Trump and Secretary Rubio’s reckless purge of the State Department inflicted lasting damage on America’s diplomatic capacity by driving out some of our nation's most experienced public servants,” said Rep. Beyer. “Our Foreign Service Officers have dedicated their lives to advancing America's interests, protecting our national security, supporting American citizens overseas, and strengthening our alliances abroad. After years of distinguished service, they shouldn’t have to jump through unnecessary bureaucratic hoops to return to jobs they never should have lost in the first place.”

“The Trump purge of seasoned experts from the State Department have jeopardized the State Department, U.S. National Security and led to the greatest brain drain from our diplomatic corps in modern history,” said Ranking Member Meeks. “This legislation takes a positive step towards making it easier to reemploy those who were baselessly fired from their posts, and re-infuse our diplomatic corps with the expertise needed to address today’s many modern challenges."

“Those who dutifully served as Foreign Service officers before the Trump Administration wrongfully terminated their service included some of our most talented and skilled international affairs experts in the United States government,” said Rep. Titus. “Our national security cannot afford to lose this institutional knowledge. The Foreign Service Test-Free Reentry Act would remove a barrier of reentry for these officers and ensure that they can continue to serve their country and foster a critical aspect of the nation’s soft power.” 

“The Trump Administration’s cuts to the State Department have cost our country experienced diplomatic talent critical to protecting our national security and advancing America’s interests abroad,” said Rep. Walkinshaw. “I’m proud to support Congressman Don Beyer’s Foreign Service Test-Free Reentry Act, which ensures career Foreign Service Officers forced out through no fault of their own do not have to retake a test for jobs they are already qualified to hold. This commonsense legislation will help strengthen America’s diplomatic corps and make our nation safer.”

Congressman Johnny Olszewski (D-MD) and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) are original co-sponsors of the Foreign Service Test-Free Reentry Act.

This legislation is also supported by the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) and the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE).

“The Foreign Service Test-Free Reentry Act would quickly bring back experienced professionals who were involuntarily separated through no fault of their own, while protecting them from future policies requiring them to retake any part of the entrance exam,” said AFSA President John Dinkelman. “With critical staffing gaps, we cannot afford to sideline proven talent and years of institutional knowledge when they are ready to return and fill essential roles for our country.”

Full text of the Foreign Service Test-Free Reentry Act is available here.