This bill amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to establish an expedited process for rehiring certain former career members. It grants the Secretary the authority to reappoint eligible individuals without requiring them to undergo any written or oral examination or other threshold qualifications typically described in section 301 of the Act. The expedited rehiring process applies specifically to former career members who were involuntarily separated or retired as part of a reduction in force or other expedited retirement process. This provision is limited to separations occurring within the period beginning January 20, 2025, and ending January 31, 2030 . To be eligible, individuals must have been serving in good standing as of their separation date, meaning they did not receive any low rankings within the five years prior to their separation or retirement, provided such reviews are clearly documented.
Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better
Timeline
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
International Affairs
Foreign Service Test-Free Reentry Act of 2026
USA119th CongressHR-9730| House
| Updated: 7/16/2026
This bill amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to establish an expedited process for rehiring certain former career members. It grants the Secretary the authority to reappoint eligible individuals without requiring them to undergo any written or oral examination or other threshold qualifications typically described in section 301 of the Act. The expedited rehiring process applies specifically to former career members who were involuntarily separated or retired as part of a reduction in force or other expedited retirement process. This provision is limited to separations occurring within the period beginning January 20, 2025, and ending January 31, 2030 . To be eligible, individuals must have been serving in good standing as of their separation date, meaning they did not receive any low rankings within the five years prior to their separation or retirement, provided such reviews are clearly documented.