PROFIT Act of 2026 (H.R. 5248)

Summary

Changes the Department of State's structure to make economic safety a key part of the country's foreign plans and national security.

What problem does this solve?

The State Department may not be set up to treat money matters as a top safety issue for the country. This law creates new jobs and offices to focus on how money and foreign plans work together to keep the nation safe.

What does this bill do?

Creates a new Under Secretary of State

Establishes the position of Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment to oversee all economic and business matters in foreign policy.

Establishes an Assistant Secretary for Sanctions Policy

Creates a new Assistant Secretary and a Bureau for Sanctions Policy to develop and coordinate U.S. sanctions strategies with foreign partners.

Creates a Chief Economist for the State Department

Establishes an Office of the Chief Economist to provide data-driven analysis on how economic trends affect national security and foreign policy.

Creates an Office for Local Diplomacy

Establishes an Office of Subnational Diplomacy to help state, county, and city governments attract foreign investment and work on foreign policy goals.

Creates an Assistant Secretary for Energy Security

Establishes a new Assistant Secretary and Bureau for Energy Security and Diplomacy to handle international energy policy and secure critical mineral supply chains.

Renames and updates an environmental and space bureau

Changes the Assistant Secretary for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs to the Assistant Secretary for Water, Environment, and Space Affairs, updating its duties.

Changes staffing rules to increase economic expertise

Requires that key director positions under the new Under Secretary generally be filled by civil service officers instead of Foreign Service officers to build long-term expertise.

Allows for direct hiring of experts

Gives the new Under Secretary the authority to hire candidates directly for four years, bypassing some standard competitive hiring rules to quickly bring in experts.

Who does this affect?

Department of State employees
U.S. businesses with international operations
State and local governments

What is the real world impact?

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Strengthens U.S. economic diplomacy

Creates new roles and offices within the Department of State to better focus on international trade, investment, and energy. This helps ensure that U.S. economic interests are a top priority in foreign policy.

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Centralizes economic foreign policy

Establishes a new Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment to oversee all economic and business affairs. This could streamline decision-making but might also create new layers of bureaucracy.

When does this start?

This bill would take effect when it is signed into law, with some changes phased in over several years.

Report on attracting experts

Within 180 days, the new Under Secretary must submit a report to Congress with plans to attract and keep employees with economic and technical skills.

Chief Economist's report to Congress

The new Chief Economist must submit a report on the U.S. international economic strategy to Congress within one year, and then every two years for the next four years.

Energy security strategy report

The new Assistant Secretary for Energy Security and Diplomacy must submit a report on the U.S. international energy strategy to Congress within one year, and then every year for the next three years.

End of direct hire authority

The special authority for the Under Secretary to hire experts directly will end four years after the bill becomes law.

Staffing changes phase-in

The requirement to fill certain director positions with civil service officers will be phased in over a five-year period.