Diplomatic Reserve Corps Act of 2026

Career Opportunities and Specialized Service: The bill creates a new personnel system that allows citizens at least 21 years of age to serve the Department of State (Section 1412).

Benefits for Veterans: The appointment of veterans or disabled veterans is considered an affirmative factor when making appointments to the Corps (Section 1412).

Financial Support for Families: In the event of a death during active service abroad, the Secretary of State may provide a death gratuity to surviving dependents (Section 1431).

Educational Assistance: Beneficiaries of members who die while on active service abroad due to an act of terrorism may receive educational assistance to cover costs such as tuition and books (Section 1433).

Health Care Coverage: Members of the Corps and their families may be eligible for health care under the Foreign Service Health Program (Section 1430).

Protection of Retirement Income: For those already receiving retirement annuities from other federal systems, an appointment to the Corps will not terminate or reduce those existing payments (Section 1429).

Employment and Reemployment Rights: Members of the Corps are granted rights and responsibilities similar to those in the uniformed services under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (Sec. 12).

Civil Relief Protections: The bill extends the protections of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to members of the Diplomatic Reserve Corps during active service (Sec. 13).

Funding for Operations: The establishment of the Diplomatic Reserve Corps Account ensures that money is available for salaries, training, orientation, human resources management, and operations (Sec. 14).

Contingency Funding: The bill provides a mechanism to ensure costs and expenses are covered for members serving during a diplomatic contingency until the funds are expended (Sec. 15).

Involuntary Service: The Secretary of State has the authority to call members to active service without their consent during a national emergency declared by the President (Section 1461), or to augment diplomatic efforts during specific circumstances (Section 1462), or for preplanned missions (Section 1463).

Mandatory Retirement: Members are required to retire from the Corps at the end of the month in which they reach 65 years of age (Section 1472).

Potential Loss of Appointment: A member's appointment can be terminated if they are found to have failed to meet performance standards (Section 1475), if they are subject to a reduction in force (Section s 1494), or if they lack necessary medical or dental readiness (Section 1493).

Service Obligations: Members are required to perform specific amounts of annual active service for training and active service (Section 1451).