To provide for the public diplomacy authorities of the Department of State, and for other purposes.

H.R. 5251 would restructure how the State Department handles public diplomacy—the efforts to build relationships between Americans and citizens of other countries. The bill would create an Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy position with authority over global public diplomacy, information operations, strategic communications, and international educational and cultural exchange programs. It would also establish two new Assistant Secretary positions: one for Educational and Cultural Affairs to oversee academic and professional exchange programs, and another for Strategic Communications to handle strategic communication and efforts to counter foreign censorship. The bill authorizes funding for these positions and related functions for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. If enacted, the bill would clarify the organizational structure and responsibilities of the State Department's public diplomacy efforts, potentially making these programs more coordinated and accountable. The bill has passed committee review with unanimous bipartisan support and is eligible for a floor vote.