Short answers, pulled from the story.
President George Washington signed the legislation creating the United States Department of State on the 27th of July 1789. This act established the first federal agency under the new U.S. Constitution.
As of 2025, the United States Department of State maintains 271 diplomatic posts worldwide. This network ranks second only to China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Since May 1947, headquarters have occupied the Harry S Truman Building in Washington D.C. The building sits just blocks away from the White House in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood.
Senator J. William Fulbright founded the Fulbright Program in 1946 to promote international educational exchange. The program provides 8,000 grants annually for graduate study and research abroad.
Actual total costs reached $27.4 billion after revenues of $6.0 billion reduced net expenses to $21.4 billion in fiscal year 2010. Independent auditors Kearney & Company qualified its audit opinion in FY 2009 due to material financial reporting weaknesses.