Diplomatic Reserve Corps Pilot Program Act of 2026

This bill mandates the establishment of the Diplomatic Reserve Corps Pilot Program within the Department of State to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of maintaining a reserve cadre of trained personnel. The program's primary purpose is to provide a crucial surge workforce to support diplomatic operations during various foreign affairs contingencies, including crises, evacuations, and natural disasters. It will also assess the recruitment, training, readiness, deployment, and retention requirements necessary for a potential permanent Diplomatic Reserve Corps, while identifying the organizational structures and resources needed to sustain such an initiative.

Membership in the pilot program will initially consist of retired members of the Foreign Service, with an initial strength of at least 250 members, potentially increasing annually. Members will undergo comprehensive training and can be activated for temporary service during emergencies. The Secretary of State must submit an initial plan to Congress and, within three years of the program's establishment, a final report evaluating its success and recommending whether to establish a permanent corps, including an assessment of expanding eligibility to other federal retirees and qualified individuals from outside government. The pilot program is set to terminate three years after enactment unless Congress reauthorizes it.