PATH to the Foreign Service Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 4466 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4466 To provide a Foreign Service officer career pathway for former United States Agency for International Development officers. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 30, 2026 Mr. Schatz (for himself, Mr. Van Hollen, Ms. Rosen, and Mr. Merkley) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To provide a Foreign Service officer career pathway for former United States Agency for International Development officers. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLES. This Act may be cited as the ``Pathways for Advancement, Transition, and Hiring to the Foreign Service'' or the ``PATH to the Foreign Service Act''. SEC. 2. FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER CAREER PATHWAY FOR FORMER USAID OFFICERS. (a) Defined Term.--In this section, the term ``USAID'' means the United States Agency for International Development. (b) Foreign Service Officer Career Pathway.--Former USAID Foreign Service members who are appointed to positions within the Department of State shall be eligible for appointment into the Foreign Service Officer career track at a grade and tenure status commensurate with their prior Foreign Service rank, time-in-service, and performance, subject to applicable suitability and security requirements. (c) Foreign Service Officer Test Waiver.--Former USAID Foreign Service members are not required to take the Foreign Service Entrance Exam, including any written or oral elements, as a condition of appointment or conversion or any hiring mechanism to the Foreign Service of the Department of State if such officers previously met Foreign Service