SUBCHAPTER III—PERFORMANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY
§4831. Security Review Committees
(a) In general
(1) Convening the Security Review Committee
In any case of a serious security incident involving loss of life, serious injury, or significant destruction of property at, or related to, a United States Government diplomatic mission abroad (referred to in this subchapter as a "Serious Security Incident"), and in any case of a serious breach of security involving intelligence activities of a foreign government directed at a United States Government mission abroad, the Secretary of State shall convene a Security Review Committee, which shall issue a report providing a full account of what occurred, consistent with
(2) Committee composition
The Secretary shall designate a Chairperson and may designate additional personnel of commensurate seniority to serve on the Security Review Committee, which shall include—
(A) the Director of the Office of Management Strategy and Solutions;
(B) the Assistant Secretary responsible for the region where the incident occurred;
(C) the Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security;
(D) the Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research;
(E) an Assistant Secretary-level representative from any involved United States Government department or agency; and
(F) other personnel determined to be necessary or appropriate.
(3) Exceptions to convening a Security Review Committee
(A) In general
The Secretary of State is not required to convene a Security Review Committee—
(i) if the Secretary determines that the incident involves only causes unrelated to security, such as when the security at issue is outside of the scope of the Secretary of State's security responsibilities under
(ii) if operational control of overseas security functions has been delegated to another agency in accordance with
(iii) if the incident is a cybersecurity incident and is covered by other review mechanisms; or
(iv) in the case of an incident described in paragraph (1) that involves any facility, installation, or personnel of the Department of Defense with respect to which the Secretary has delegated operational control of overseas security functions to the Secretary of Defense pursuant to
(B) Department of Defense investigations
In the case of an incident described in subparagraph (A)(iv), the Secretary of Defense shall conduct an appropriate inquiry. The Secretary of Defense shall report the findings and recommendations of such inquiry, and the action taken with respect to such recommendations, to the Secretary of State and Congress.
(4) Facilities in Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria, and Iraq
(A) Limited exemptions from requirement to convene Board
The Secretary of State is not required to convene a Board in the case of an incident that—
(i) involves serious injury, loss of life, or significant destruction of property at, or related to, a United States Government mission in Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria, or Iraq; and
(ii) occurs during the period beginning on October 1, 2020, and ending on September 30, 2022.
(B) Reporting requirements
In the case of an incident described in subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall—
(i) promptly notify the Committee on International Relations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate of the incident;
(ii) conduct an inquiry of the incident; and
(iii) upon completion of the inquiry required by clause (ii), submit to each such Committee a report on the findings and recommendations related to such inquiry and the actions taken with respect to such recommendations.
(5) Rulemaking
The Secretary of State shall promulgate regulations defining the membership and operating procedures for the Security Review Committee and provide such guidance to the Chair and ranking members of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.
(b) Deadlines for convening Security Review Committees
(1) In general
The Secretary of State shall convene a Security Review Committee not later than 60 days after the occurrence of an incident described in subsection (a)(1), or 60 days after the Department first becomes aware of such an incident, whichever is earlier, except that the 60-day period for convening a Security Review Committee may be extended for one additional 60-day period if the Secretary determines that the additional period is necessary.
(2) Delay in cases involving intelligence activities
With respect to breaches of security involving intelligence activities, the Secretary of State may delay the establishment of a Board if, after consultation with the chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate and the chairman of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives, the Secretary determines that the establishment of a Board would compromise intelligence sources or methods. The Secretary shall promptly advise the chairmen of such committees of each determination pursuant to this paragraph to delay the establishment of a Board.
(c) Congressional notification
Whenever the Secretary of State convenes a Security Review Committee, the Secretary shall promptly inform the chair and ranking member of—
(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
(2) the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate;
(3) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
(4) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives;
(5) the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives; and
(6) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
(
Editorial Notes
References in Text
This chapter, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), was in the original "titles I through IV", meaning titles I through IV of
Amendments
2022—
Subsec. (a)(1).
Subsec. (a)(2).
Subsec. (a)(3).
Subsec. (a)(4).
Subsec. (a)(5).
Subsec. (b).
Subsec. (b)(1).
Subsec. (c).
"(1) that a Board has been convened;
"(2) of the membership of the Board; and
"(3) of other appropriate information about the Board."
2021—Subsec. (a)(3).
Subsec. (a)(3)(A)(i).
Subsec. (a)(3)(A)(ii).
2005—Subsec. (a)(1).
Subsec. (a)(3).
1999—
1987—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
Committee on International Relations of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Foreign Affairs of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Tenth Congress, Jan. 5, 2007.
Security Review Committees for Certain Facilities
Similar provisions were contained in the following prior acts:
§4832. Security Review Committee
(a) Membership
A Security Review Committee shall consist of five members, 4 appointed by the Secretary of State, and 1 appointed by the Director of Central Intelligence. The Secretary of State shall designate the Chairperson of the Security Review Committee. Members of the Security Review Committee who are not Federal officers or employees shall each be paid at a rate not to exceed the maximum rate of basic pay payable for level GS–18 of the General Schedule for each day (including travel time) during which they are engaged in the actual performance of duties vested in the Security Review Committee. Members of the Security Review Committee who are Federal officers or employees shall receive no additional pay by reason of such membership.
(b) Facilities, services, supplies, and staff
(1) Supplied by Department of State
A Security Review Committee shall obtain facilities, services, and supplies through the Department of State. All expenses of the Security Review Committee, including necessary costs of travel, shall be paid by the Department of State. Travel expenses authorized under this paragraph shall be paid in accordance with subchapter I of
(2) Detail
At the request of a Security Review Committee, employees of the Department of State or other Federal agencies, members of the Foreign Service, or members of the uniformed services may be temporarily assigned, with or without reimbursement, to assist the Security Review Committee.
(3) Experts and consultants
A Security Review Committee may employ and compensate (in accordance with
(
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2022—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
Reference to the Director of Central Intelligence or the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency in the Director's capacity as the head of the intelligence community deemed to be a reference to the Director of National Intelligence. Reference to the Director of Central Intelligence or the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency in the Director's capacity as the head of the Central Intelligence Agency deemed to be a reference to the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. See section 1081(a), (b) of
References in Other Laws to GS–16, 17, or 18 Pay Rates
References in laws to the rates of pay for GS–16, 17, or 18, or to maximum rates of pay under the General Schedule, to be considered references to rates payable under specified sections of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, see section 529 [title I, §101(c)(1)] of
§4833. Serious Security Incident investigation process
(a) Investigation process
(1) Initiation upon reported incident
A United States mission shall submit an initial report of a Serious Security Incident not later than 3 days after such incident occurs, whenever feasible, at which time an investigation of the incident shall be initiated.
(2) Investigation
Not later than 10 days after the submission of a report pursuant to paragraph (1), the Secretary shall direct the Diplomatic Security Service to assemble an investigative team to investigate the incident and independently establish what occurred. Each investigation under this subsection shall cover—
(A) an assessment of what occurred, who perpetrated or is suspected of having perpetrated the Serious Security Incident, and whether applicable security procedures were followed;
(B) in the event the Serious Security Incident involved a United States diplomatic compound, motorcade, residence, or other facility, an assessment of whether adequate security countermeasures were in effect based on a known threat at the time of the incident;
(C) if the incident involved an individual or group of officers, employees, or family members under Chief of Mission security responsibility conducting approved operations or movements outside the United States mission, an assessment of whether proper security briefings and procedures were in place and whether weighing of risk of the operation or movement took place; and
(D) an assessment of whether the failure of any officials or employees to follow procedures or perform their duties contributed to the security incident.
(3) Investigative team
The investigative team assembled pursuant to paragraph (2) shall consist of individuals from the Diplomatic Security Service who shall provide an independent examination of the facts surrounding the incident and what occurred. The Secretary, or the Secretary's designee, shall review the makeup of the investigative team for a conflict, appearance of conflict, or lack of independence that could undermine the results of the investigation and may remove or replace any members of the team to avoid such an outcome.
(b) Report of Investigation
Not later than 90 days after the occurrence of a Serious Security Incident, the investigative team investigating the incident shall prepare and submit a Report of Investigation to the Security Review Committee that includes—
(1) a detailed description of the matters set forth in subparagraphs (A) through (D) of subsection (a)(2), including all related findings;
(2) a complete and accurate account of the casualties, injuries, and damage resulting from the incident; and
(3) a review of security procedures and directives in place at the time of the incident.
(c) Confidentiality
The investigative team investigating a Serious Security Incident shall adopt such procedures with respect to confidentiality as determined necessary, including procedures relating to the conduct of closed proceedings or the submission and use of evidence in camera, to ensure in particular the protection of classified information relating to national defense, foreign policy, or intelligence matters. The Director of National Intelligence shall establish the level of protection required for intelligence information and for information relating to intelligence personnel included in the report required under subsection (b). The Security Review Committee shall determine the level of classification of the final report prepared pursuant to
(
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2022—
Subsec. (d).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
Reference to the Director of Central Intelligence or the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency in the Director's capacity as the head of the intelligence community deemed to be a reference to the Director of National Intelligence. Reference to the Director of Central Intelligence or the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency in the Director's capacity as the head of the Central Intelligence Agency deemed to be a reference to the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. See section 1081(a), (b) of
§4834. Security Review Committee findings and report
(a) Findings
The Security Review Committee shall—
(1) review the Report of Investigation prepared pursuant to
(2) determine, in writing—
(A) whether the incident was security related and constituted a Serious Security Incident;
(B) if the incident involved a diplomatic compound, motorcade, residence, or other mission facility—
(i) whether the security systems, security countermeasures, and security procedures operated as intended; and
(ii) whether such systems worked to materially mitigate the attack or were found to be inadequate to mitigate the threat and attack;
(C) if the incident involved an individual or group of officers conducting an approved operation outside the mission, whether a valid process was followed in evaluating the requested operation and weighing the risk of the operation, which determination shall not seek to assign accountability for the incident unless the Security Review Committee determines that an official breached his or her duty;
(D) the impact of intelligence and information availability, and whether the mission was aware of the general operating threat environment or any more specific threat intelligence or information and took that into account in ongoing and specific operations; and
(E) any other facts and circumstances that may be relevant to the appropriate security management of United States missions abroad.
(b) Report
(1) Submission to Secretary of State
Not later than 60 days after receiving the Report of Investigation prepared pursuant to
(A) the findings described in subsection (a); and
(B) any related recommendations.
(2) Submission to Congress
Not later than 90 days after receiving the report pursuant to paragraph (1), the Secretary of State shall submit a copy of the report to—
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
(B) the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
(D) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives;
(E) the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives; and
(F) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
(c) Personnel recommendations
If in the course of conducting an investigation under
(
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2022—
2016—Subsec. (c).
Subsec. (c)(2).
1987—Subsec. (a).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2016 Amendment
§4835. Relation to other proceedings
(a) No effect on existing remedies or defenses
Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to create administrative or judicial review remedies or rights of action not otherwise available by law, nor shall any provision of this subchapter be construed to deprive any person of any right or legal defense which would otherwise be available to that person under any law, rule, or regulation.
(b) Future inquiries
Nothing in this subchapter may be construed to preclude the Secretary of State from convening a follow-up public board of inquiry to investigate any security incident if the incident was of such magnitude or significance that an internal process is deemed insufficient to understand and investigate the incident. All materials gathered during the procedures provided under this subchapter shall be provided to any related board of inquiry convened by the Secretary.
(
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2022—