The Department of State is the lead U.S. foreign-affairs agency, advising the President, staffing embassies and consulates, negotiating treaties, and protecting Americans abroad. After USAID was wound down in 2025, most U.S. foreign-assistance functions were folded into the Department.
Open the interactive page for DOS →Created byAct of July 27, 1789 (ch. 4, 1 Stat. 28), creating the Department of Foreign Affairs; renamed the Department of State by the Act of Sept. 15, 1789 (ch. 14, 1 Stat. 68)
Head appointed22 U.S.C. § 2651a: there shall be a Secretary of State appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, at the head of the Department of State. No fixed term (PAS)
Removal standardno statutory removal protection — removable at will (Myers v. United States, 272 U.S. 52 (1926))
Funded underDepartment of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act
Congressional oversightHouse Committee on Foreign Affairs · Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
Inspector generalState Department OIG (PAS Inspector General under the IG Act, 5 U.S.C. § 403(a))
Judicial reviewAPA § 702 suits in district court; visa decisions are largely shielded by the consular-nonreviewability doctrine; passport actions reviewable under 22 U.S.C. § 211a and the APA
Vote for President and Senate; apply or report problems for passports and visas at travel.state.gov; submit public comments on proposed rules at regulations.gov.