The Senate has approved a measure to add 1,000 more U.S. Marines to embassy security forces, nearly doubling the size of the security force of 1,200 in 130 countries, according to an article from The Washington Examiner.
The Senate included the new measure in newly passed defense legislation, and there are expectations it will also be included in House legislation, the article says.
The diplomatic group, representing 30,000 active and retired Foreign Service employees, is also seeking funding to expand security for diplomats who leave U.S. embassies around the globe. According to the group, the Embassy Marine Security Guard does not provide U.S. diplomats protection when they travel outside the embassy, the article reports.
The Senate funding move was in reaction to the September 2012 attacks on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, which killed Ambassador Christopher Stevens, Foreign Service Information Management Specialist Sean Smith, and two other American security agents – Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty.