Foreign Assistance Accountability and Oversight Act

Senate Bill

S. 491

119th Congress

Foreign Assistance Accountability and Oversight Act

In Committee

Introduced:Feb 6, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Tim Kaine

Senator

Democratic

VA

Cosponsors

21

Quick Stats

Policy Area

International Affairs

Summary

This bill creates a new position called the Director of Foreign Assistance within the State Department. This director would coordinate and oversee how the United States distributes aid to other countries, working to ensure foreign assistance programs align with U.S. foreign policy goals and are effective.

Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

SponsorTim Kaine (D-VA)

Introduced2/6/2025

StatusRead twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

ChamberSenate

Data from Congress.gov

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Vote Prediction

Foreign Assistance Accountability and Oversight Act

This bill creates a new position called the Director of Foreign Assistance within the State Department. This director would coordinate and oversee how the United States distributes aid to other countries, working to ensure foreign assistance programs align wit

Community Breakdown

Pass

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Fail

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0 predictions

This bill creates a new position called the Director of Foreign Assistance within the State Department. This director would coordinate and oversee how the United States distributes aid to other countries, working to ensure foreign assistance programs align with U.S. foreign policy goals and are effective.

Bill Number: 491
Sponsor: Tim Kaine (D-VA)
Introduced: 2/6/2025
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Policy Area: International Affairs

Data from Congress.gov

AI-generated summary

Fact Sheet

Title: Foreign Assistance Accountability and Oversight Act
Bill Number: 491
Sponsor: Tim Kaine (D-VA)
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Introduced: 2/6/2025
Summary: This bill creates a new position called the Director of Foreign Assistance within the State Department. This director would coordinate and oversee how the United States distributes aid to other countries, working to ensure foreign assistance programs align with U.S. foreign policy goals and are effe

Data from Congress.gov

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill creates a new position called the Director of Foreign Assistance within the State Department. This director would coordinate and oversee how the United States distributes aid to other countries, working to ensure foreign assistance programs align with U.S. foreign policy goals and are effective.

Last updated: 3/5/2026

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

The bill establishes a new Director of Foreign Assistance position at the State Department who must be confirmed by the Senate.
The director would coordinate foreign assistance programs across multiple government agencies, including USAID, to align them with U.S. foreign policy goals.
The director's responsibilities include measuring the effectiveness of aid programs, managing budgets, and promoting evidence-based policies.
The director would report to the Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources and should not hold any other government position simultaneously.
Congress must approve any negative personnel actions (demotions, suspensions, or dismissals) affecting the director or their staff.

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

This bill would affect how the federal government manages billions of dollars in foreign aid programs. It would impact State Department operations, USAID, and other agencies involved in distributing assistance to other countries. The change aims to improve coordination and accountability in how the U.S. uses foreign aid to advance its national security and foreign policy interests.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

International Affairs

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

491, 119th Congress (2025). "Foreign Assistance Accountability and Oversight Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-s-491