New legislation, the ‘Department of State Policy Provisions Act,’ introduced by Rep. Brian Mast, introduces sweeping changes to foreign aid, diplomatic security, and international relations, with a focus on passport revocation for those providing material support to terrorism.
A comprehensive bill introduced in the House of Representatives on September 11, 2025, aims to fundamentally reshape how the U.S. Department of State conducts its foreign policy and manages its operations.
H.R. 5300, titled the “Department of State Policy Provisions Act,” was introduced by Florida Rep. Brian Mast and touches on a wide range of issues, including a key provision granting the Secretary of State new authority to deny or revoke passports for individuals linked to terrorism.
The proposed legislation amends the Passport Act of 1926, authorizing the Secretary of State to refuse a passport to anyone who has been charged with or convicted of a terrorism-related offense or is determined to have provided “material support” to a designated foreign terrorist organization.
The bill also mandates the revocation of an existing passport for such individuals. Exceptions are made to allow for a limited passport for return travel to the U.S. or in cases of humanitarian or emergency needs.
An important element of the provision is the inclusion of a right to review, allowing individuals 60 days to appeal a denial or revocation decision.
The bill also requires the Secretary to report to the relevant congressional committees within 30 days of any such action.
The definition of “material support” is broad, including financial services, lodging, training, weapons, and transportation, but explicitly excludes medicine and religious materials. The bill also emphasizes that these powers cannot be used to abridge First Amendment rights.
Beyond this significant passport provision, the bill introduced by Rep. Mast touches on a wide range of issues. Among its most notable provisions, the legislation seeks to address what it calls a “staffing crisis” in the Bureau of African Affairs and mandate the use of the “Standard Embassy Design” for all new diplomatic post construction.
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Other Key Provisions of H.R. 5300
A key section of the bill focuses on holding foreign countries accountable for the “unlawful or wrongful detention” of U.S. nationals. The Secretary of State would be authorized to designate countries as “State Sponsors of Unlawful or Wrongful Detention,” a new classification that could trigger punitive measures.
On the management front, the bill seeks to modernize and consolidate. It proposes creating a “Center for Strategy and Solutions” to streamline data analytics and management consulting. It also includes a controversial provision that would require all U.S. foreign assistance to “prominently display the flag of the United States as the sole and primary brand,” with a prohibition on other national flags or organizational logos.
In the realm of international security, the bill directs the State Department to develop a strategy to secure undersea cables and authorizes new military financing for Jordan. It also includes a provision that would lift the arms embargo on the Republic of Cyprus under certain conditions.
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The bill’s foreign assistance provisions propose a new “Global Health Compact Model” to “burden shift” global health programs to partner countries, aiming for a phased wind-down of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). This section also reduces the U.S. contribution cap to the Global Fund from 33% to 20% or $800 million, whichever is less. Additionally, it prohibits funding for the “Global Health Worker Initiative.”
Finally, the legislation mandates a focus on “American exceptionalism in embassies,” requiring all art and cultural displays to “reflect and promote the history, values, ideals, and achievements of the United States.”
It also seeks to increase the employment of U.S. citizens in international organizations and require new reports on malign foreign influence within the United Nations system.
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