Authorize the Secretary to establish the Post Data Program, overseen by the Department's Chief Data and Artificial Intelligence Officer. Aim to cultivate a data and AI culture at diplomatic posts, promote data integration with the Department of State Headquarters, and enhance operational efficiencies. Require the Secretary to submit an implementation plan within 180 days, outlining strategies for advancing program goals, hiring data and AI officers at diplomatic posts, and resource allocation. Obligate the Secretary to provide annual reports to appropriate congressional committees on the implementation status for three years. Define "appropriate congressional committees" as those related to Foreign Affairs and Appropriations in both the House and Senate.
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FY2026 NDAA, Section 5301 ("Post data pilot program")
ETO AGORA · NDAA provisions · 2025
Summary
Authorize the Secretary to establish the Post Data Program, overseen by the Department's Chief Data and Artificial Intelligence Officer.
Aim to cultivate a data and AI culture at diplomatic posts, promote data integration with the Department of State Headquarters, and enhance operational efficiencies.
Require the Secretary to submit an implementation plan within 180 days, outlining strategies for advancing program goals, hiring data and AI officers at diplomatic posts, and resource allocation.
Obligate the Secretary to provide annual reports to appropriate congressional committees on the implementation status for three years.
Define "appropriate congressional committees" as those related to Foreign Affairs and Appropriations in both the House and Senate.
Authorizes the Secretary to establish a Post Data Program overseen by the Chief Data and AI Officer that cultivates data and artificial intelligence culture, promotes data integration, and creates operational efficiencies.
SEC. 5301. POST DATA PILOT PROGRAM. (a) Post Data and AI Pilot Program.-- (1) Establishment.--The Secretary is authorized to establish a program, which shall be known as the ``Post Data Program'' (referred to in this section as the ``Program''), that shall be overseen by the Department's Chief Data and Artificial Intelligence Officer. (2) Goals.--The goals of the Program shall include the following: (A) Cultivating a data and artificial intelligence culture at diplomatic posts globally, including data fluency and data collaboration. (B) Promoting data integration with Department of State Headquarters. (C) Creating operational efficiencies, supporting innovation, and enhancing mission impact.
Requires the Secretary to submit an implementation plan for hiring AI officers and resource allocation; requires the Secretary to submit a report to appropriate congressional committees regarding the status of the implementation plan not later than 180 days after enactment.
(b) Implementation Plan.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees an implementation plan that outlines strategies for-- (A) advancing the goals described in subsection (a)(2); (B) hiring data and artificial intelligence officers at United States diplomatic posts; and (C) allocation of necessary resources to sustain the Program. (2) Annual reporting requirement.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for the following three years, the Secretary shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees regarding the status of the implementation plan required under paragraph (1).
Defines "appropriate congressional committees" as specific committees from the House and Senate.
(c) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means-- (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.