State Department Promotions Could Face Increased Scrutiny Thanks to Rubio Bill

A new bill introduced by US Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) would alter the promotion process for members of the US Department of State. 

The Mandatory Review of Performance Improvement Plans at State Act would require the State Department review any Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs) issued to individuals being considered for promotion. 

The State Department issues PIPs to underperforming staff who fail to meet basic job expectations. 

PIPs can lead to employment termination. 

Senator Rubio explained he drafted the act to ensure a “transparent and efficient system for performance reviews.”

Rubio continued via press release, stating hiring processes at the State Department should be updated given the “Department is a critical component of our federal government which defends U.S. interests abroad.”

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has not commented on Rubio’s proposed legislation. 

Secretary Blinken is currently on a Middle-East tour as he attempts to broker negotiations in Israel-Hamas war. 

President Joe Biden recently publicly opposed Israeli plans to invade Rafah as part of a final push to decimate Hamas. 

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz responded by explaining destroying Hamas "cannot be achieved without collapsing and clearing Hamas’s forces from Rafah."

An Israeli delegation is set to arrive in the US to discuss the planned Rafah operation with US officials. 

Last week, President Biden announced new sanctions for Israeli individuals and entities.

The new sanctions expand upon previous ones by targeting certain Israeli individuals allegedly involved in fostering violence in the West Bank.

Those individuals are Israeli settlers’ West Bank outposts.

Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) simultaneously called for new parliamentary elections in Israel. 

Senator Schumer criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and called Israeli leaders “bigots” who do not agree with a two state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.