Congress·In Progress·H.R. 9603

Less Bureaucracy, Better International Education Oversight Act

International Education: Transfer to State Department

Jul 9·View on Congress.gov·Read full text

Next up: A house committee

A house committee must act next: committee consideration.

Legislative Progress

House

Senate

President

Law

Unlikely to pass

Moving programs between departments is a major administrative change that usually requires broad support, which this single-sponsor bill currently lacks.

Key Points

This bill moves all international education and foreign language study programs from the Department of Education to the Department of State. This includes the Fulbright-Hays fellowships and scholarships.
The goal is to change how the government manages programs that help Americans learn foreign languages and study abroad. The bill also shuts down the Institute for International Public Policy.
The change would affect students and researchers who apply for federal grants for international studies. Existing grants and legal agreements will stay in place during the move.
The bill requires that this move does not lead to an increase in the total number of federal employees. All money and staff currently working on these programs will be moved to the State Department.
If passed, the transfer would happen within six months. The State Department would take over all responsibilities, including managing current lawsuits or administrative hearings related to these programs.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.

Milestones

3 milestones4 actions

Jul 15, 2026House

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 20 - 16.

The committee approved this bill and is sending it to the full chamber for a vote. This is a significant step — most bills never get this far.

Jul 15, 2026House

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

Jul 9, 2026House

Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.

Jul 9, 2026

Introduced in House

The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.

No votes, news coverage, or related bills recorded for this bill yet.

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Less Bureaucracy, Better International Education Oversight Act

Bill NumberHR 9603

Congress119th Congress

ChamberHouse of Representatives

Latest ActionOrdered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 20 - 16.

Data Sources

Congress.gov

Official legislative information

Read Full Bill Text

Sponsor

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.