Press Releases

Washington, D.C. – 8/5/25… Today, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, introduced the Secure Our Embassies Act to address gaps in counterintelligence readiness and coordination by promoting integrated security planning and role-specific training across Diplomatic Technology Officers (DTOs), Regional Security Officers (RSOs), Regional Security Engineering Officers (RSEOs), and the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO).

The Secure our Embassies Act would do this by:

• Requiring a State Department report within 180 days outlining efforts to improve coordination, current CI training standards, planned improvements, and resource needs;
• Supporting integrated coordination among RSOs, DTOs, RSEOs, and OBO during the design, construction, and operation of overseas facilities;
• Ensuring personnel in these roles receive role-specific CI and regional security training that addresses insider threats, foreign intelligence risks, and cyber vulnerabilities;
• Promoting joint training modules and inter-bureau CI briefings to reinforce shared security responsibilities and prevent siloed operations.

“We ask our diplomatic personnel to operate in some of the most complex and high-risk environments in the world. They deserve the strongest possible security framework, one that’s coordinated, modern, and tailored to the threats they face. My Secure Our Embassies Act is about making sure the right people have the right training and are working together from day one. It’s a smart, necessary step toward protecting our missions and the Americans who serve in them,” said Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17). 

The Secure Our Embassies Act is part of a broader legislative package spearheaded by Chairman Lawler to modernize and strengthen the State Department's operations. The package includes proposals to streamline outdated processes, update legacy authorities, enhance counterterrorism capabilities, and ensure accountability within the Department.

As Chairman of the MENA Subcommittee, which holds jurisdiction over both the State Department’s Bureau of Management and Bureau of Counterterrorism, Lawler is leveraging his role to advance reforms that support a more agile and effective foreign policy.

Each of these bills, including the Secure our Embassies Act, has been submitted for consideration in the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s State Department reauthorization. 

Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.

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Full text of the bill can be found HERE.