Portal:Department of State
Department of State
The Department of State (DOS), or simply the State Department, is an executive department of the U.S. federal government responsible for the country's foreign policy and relations. Equivalent to the ministry of foreign affairs of other nations, its primary duties are advising the U.S. president on international relations, administering diplomatic missions, negotiating international treaties and agreements, and representing the U.S. at the United Nations. The department is headquartered in the Harry S Truman Building, a few blocks from the White House, in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood of Washington, D.C.; "Foggy Bottom" is thus sometimes used as a metonym.
Established in 1789 as the first administrative arm of the U.S. executive branch, the State Department is considered among the most powerful and prestigious executive agencies. It is headed by the U.S. secretary of state, who reports directly to the U.S. president and is a member of the Cabinet. Analogous to a foreign minister, the secretary of state serves as the federal government's chief diplomat and representative abroad, and is the first Cabinet official in the order of precedence and in the presidential line of succession. The position is currently held by Antony Blinken, who was appointed by President Joe Biden and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on January 26, 2021, by a vote of 78–22.
As of 2024[update], the State Department maintains 271 diplomatic posts worldwide, second only to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China. It also manages the U.S. Foreign Service, provides diplomatic training to U.S. officials and military personnel, exercises partial jurisdiction over immigration, and provides various services to Americans, such as issuing passports and visas, posting foreign travel advisories, and advancing commercial ties abroad. The department administers the oldest U.S. civilian intelligence agency, the Bureau of Intelligence and Research, and maintains a law enforcement arm, the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS).
Organization
The State Department's 75,547 employees included 13,855 foreign service officers; 49,734 locally employed staff, whose duties are primarily serving overseas; and 10,171 predominantly domestic civil service employees.[1]
- Chief of Staff
- United States Mission to the United Nations
- United States Agency for International Development
- Bureau of Intelligence and Research
- Bureau of Legislative Affairs
- Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy
- Office of Global Women's Issues
- Office of the Legal Adviser
- Policy Planning Staff
- Counselor
- Executive Secretariat
- Office of Civil Rights
- Office of the Ombuds
- Office of the Chief of Protocol
- Special Envoys and Special Representatives
- Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy
Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources
Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs
- Bureau of African Affairs
- Bureau of Counterterrorism and Countering Violent Extremism
- Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs
- Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs
- Bureau of International Organization Affairs
- Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs
- Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs
- Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs
Under Secretary of State for Management
- Bureau of Administration
- Bureau of Budget and Planning
- Bureau of Consular Affairs*Office of Children's Issues
- Bureau of Diplomatic Security*U.S. Diplomatic Security Service (DSS)
- Office of Foreign Missions
- Bureau of Global Talent Management
- United States Foreign Service
- Bureau of Diplomatic Technology
- Bureau of Medical Services
- Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations
- Director of Diplomatic Reception Rooms
- Foreign Service Institute
- Office of Management Strategy and Solutions
Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment
- Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs
- Bureau of Energy Resources
- Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
- Office of Global Food Security
- Office of Global Partnerships
- Office of the Science and Technology Adviser
- Office of the Chief Economist
Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs
- Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs*Internet Access and Training Program
- Bureau of Public Affairs*Spokesperson for the United States Department of State
- *Office of the Historian
- *United States Diplomacy Center
- Bureau of International Information Programs
- Office of Policy, Planning, and Resources for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs
Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs
- Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation
- Bureau of Political-Military Affairs
- Bureau of Arms Control, Verification, and Compliance
Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights
- Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations
- *Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization
- Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
- Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
- Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration
- Office of Global Criminal Justice
- Office of International Religious Freedom
- Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
Partnerships
Organization chart
Political appointees
Programs and initiatives
- Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA):
- Fulbright Program: A flagship international educational exchange program aimed at increasing mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries.
- International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP): Brings current and emerging foreign leaders to the U.S. to experience American society and culture through firsthand interactions.
- U.S. Speaker Program: Connects American experts with foreign audiences to discuss topics of strategic importance.
- Sports Diplomacy: Utilizes the universal appeal of sports to transcend cultural differences and bring people together.
- Office of Global Women’s Issues (S/GWI):
- Women’s Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP) Initiative: Aims to economically empower 50 million women in developing countries by 2025.
- Afghan Women Leadership Initiative (AWLI): Empowers Afghan women through education, economic participation, and protection from gender-based violence.
- Bureau of Counterterrorism (CT) - https://www.state.gov/bureau-of-counterterrorism-programs-and-initiatives/
- Antiterrorism Assistance Program (ATA): Provides training to enhance the capabilities of foreign partners to counter terrorism while respecting human rights and the rule of law.
- Countering the Financing of Terrorism (CFT)
- Counterterrorism Partnerships Fund (CTPF)
- Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF)
- Technical Support Working Group (TSWG)
- Terrorist Screening and Interdiction Programs (TSI)
- Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership (TSCTP)
- Partnership for Regional East Africa Counterterrorism (PREACT)
- Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM): Funds various programs for refugees, victims of conflict, and stateless persons, including assistance for resettlement, support in camps, and emergency aid.
- Office of Global Programs and Initiatives (PM/GPI):
- Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI): Strengthens the capabilities of UN and regional peace operations.
- African Peacekeeping Rapid Response Partnership (APRRP): Focuses on building high-demand capabilities for rapid deployment in African peacekeeping missions.
- Global Security Contingency Fund (GSCF): Supports programs designed to build the capacity of U.S. allies and partner nations in security-related activities like border security and counterterrorism.
- TechCamp Program: Focuses on building networks of activists around the world to advance U.S. policy objectives through technology workshops.
- Art in Embassies: Promotes cross-cultural dialogue through art exhibitions at U.S. embassies worldwide.
- Diplomatic Reception Rooms: Utilizes American art and architecture to facilitate diplomatic engagements.
- U.S. Speaker Program: Facilitates engagements between American experts and international audiences on various strategic issues.
Two-Column Section 30
Wide Section 40
Narrow Section 45
Extra Wide Section 50
Extra Narrow Section 55
This is a Portal. See All portals.