Sullivan, Van Hollen Recognize U.S. Foreign Service Day
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), co-founders of the bipartisan Senate Foreign Service Caucus, announced a resolution celebrating May 2, 2025 as “Foreign Service Day.” The day recognizes the men and women who have served, or are presently serving, in the Foreign Service of the United States and honors the members of the Foreign Service who have given their lives in the line of duty. Foreign Service Day has been celebrated on the first Friday in May for generations. Last year, the Senators celebrated the Foreign Service’s 100th anniversary on May 24, 2024. The institution, as it is organized today, was established through the Rogers Act of 1924, which consolidated and reorganized the existing Diplomatic and Consular Services into a single entity. Since then, the Foreign Service has led U.S. diplomatic efforts across the globe and is critical to securing U.S. foreign policy interests.
“America’s Foreign Service officers are tasked with promoting America’s interests, strengthening national security, and assisting U.S. citizens in the far corners of the globe, often with little fanfare or recognition.” said Sen. Sullivan, a co-founder of the bipartisan Senate Foreign Service Caucus. “I’m glad to have worked with Senator Van Hollen once again to salute the courageous, dedicated members of the United States Foreign Service.”
“Our Foreign Service officers and State Department officials carry out the vital functions of advancing American diplomacy, promoting our values, and assisting U.S. citizens abroad. The work they do is essential to our national security and our standing on the world stage, and we are deeply grateful for the sacrifice they and their families make,” said Sen. Van Hollen, a co-founder of the bipartisan Senate Foreign Service Caucus. “This bipartisan resolution honors the immense contributions and critical importance of the Foreign Service to our nation and underscores why we must continue working to support our diplomatic corps.”
“Each year on the first Friday in May, we commemorate Foreign Service Day to honor those who gave their lives in service to their nation, defending the security, prosperity, and fundamental values of the United States,” said Tom Yazdgerdi, president of the American Foreign Service Association. “Members of the Foreign Service remain ready to defend, to take necessary risks and accept the hardships that come with serving as the first line of defense for our nation. I thank our caucus co-chairs for their commemoration of this day and the resolution recognizing the important work of the Foreign Service.”
The Foreign Service is comprised of tens of thousands of personnel who serve at hundreds of embassies and consulates overseas. They are employees of the Department of State, the Department of Commerce, the Foreign Agricultural Service, the Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service, and the U.S. Agency for Global Media.
In 2017, Senators Van Hollen and Sullivan formed the Foreign Service Caucus to provide a bipartisan platform for addressing the challenges facing those who serve in the U.S. Foreign Service around the world and to develop policy solutions to support the U.S. diplomatic mission abroad. As part of their leadership of this Caucus, the Senators worked to pass their Foreign Service Families Act, which became law through the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The Senators’ legislation ensures that the Foreign Service is able to attract and retain a world-class diplomatic corps by providing expanded career options and support to eligible family members – similar to those provided to military families.
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