CHAPTER 52—FOREIGN SERVICE

SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL PROVISIONS

        

SUBCHAPTER II—MANAGEMENT OF SERVICE

        

SUBCHAPTER III—APPOINTMENTS

        

SUBCHAPTER IV—COMPENSATION

        

SUBCHAPTER V—CLASSIFICATION OF POSITIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

        

SUBCHAPTER VI—PROMOTION AND RETENTION

        

SUBCHAPTER VII—CAREER DEVELOPMENT, TRAINING, AND ORIENTATION

        

SUBCHAPTER VIII—FOREIGN SERVICE RETIREMENT AND DISABILITY

Part I—Foreign Service Retirement and Disability System

        

Part II—Foreign Service Pension System

        

SUBCHAPTER IX—TRAVEL, LEAVE, AND OTHER BENEFITS

        

SUBCHAPTER X—LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS

        

SUBCHAPTER XI—GRIEVANCES

        

SUBCHAPTER XI–A—FOREIGN SERVICE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

        

SUBCHAPTER XII—TRANSITION

        

SUBCHAPTER XIII—MISCELLANEOUS

        

SUBCHAPTER XIV—POWERS, DUTIES AND LIABILITIES OF CONSULAR OFFICERS GENERALLY

        

Codification

Provisions of this chapter are derived from the Foreign Service Act of 1946, former section 801 et seq. of this title, and related and miscellaneous provisions as follows:

New	Old
3901	801
3902	802
3903	861
3904	841
3905	807
3921	811a
3922	1224, 2385, 2506
3923	1225
3924
3925	1225
3926	842, 843
3927	2680a
3928	811a, 821
3929	2384 note
3930	826
3931	827
3941	910, 922, 939, 1234
3942	901, 911, 961
3943	922, 929, 936, 946, 951
3944	900, 901a, 902
3945	906
3946	911, 929
3947	911, 912
3948	915
3949	922, 936
3950	928
3951	889 note, 2693
3952	907, 908, 924, 938, 1231
3961	866, 881
3962, 3963
3964	868
3965
3966	995, 1017
3967
3968	889, 2693
3969	873, 890
3970	889
3971	876, 877
3972	896
3973	2679a
3981	886
3982	901
3983	961, 964, 966
3984	961, 962, 966
3985
4001	991
4002	993
4003	986, 996
4004	987
4005, 4006	993
4007, 4008	1003, 2385, 2506
4009	1004, 2506
4010	1007
4011	1005, 1008
4012	1027, 1028, 1031
4013
4021	1041
4022	968, 2385
4023
4024	1042–1045, 1047, 1048
4025	1048
4026	1009, 2693
4041	1061
4042	1062
4043	929, 1063, 1229, 2385
4044	1064, 1086
4045	1071, 1086
4046	1076
4047	1076a
4048	1081
4049	1082
4050	1084
4051	1006
4052	1001, 1002
4053	914
4054
4055	1086
4056	1091
4057	1093
4058	1101
4059	1103
4060	1004, 1104
4061	1105
4062	1106
4063	1111
4064	1112
4065	1116
4066	1121
4067	1065
4081	966, 1136, 1138, 1157
4082	1137
4083	1148
4084	1156, 1158–1160
4085	1131
4101–4118
4131–4138	1037a
4139	1037b
4140	1037c
4151–4159
4171–4173
4191–4215	1171–1195
4216	1197
4217	1198
4218–4222	1200–1204
4223	99
4224–4226	812–814

Executive Documents

Foreign Commercial Service

For authority of Secretary of Commerce to establish a Foreign Commercial Service in Department of Commerce, see section 1–104 of Ex. Ord. No. 12188, Jan. 2, 1980, 45 F.R. 991, as amended, set out as a note under section 2171 of Title 19, Customs Duties.

SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL PROVISIONS

§3901. Congressional findings and objectives

(a) The Congress finds that—

(1) a career foreign service, characterized by excellence and professionalism, is essential in the national interest to assist the President and the Secretary of State in conducting the foreign affairs of the United States;

(2) the scope and complexity of the foreign affairs of the Nation have heightened the need for a professional foreign service that will serve the foreign affairs interests of the United States in an integrated fashion and that can provide a resource of qualified personnel for the President, the Secretary of State, and the agencies concerned with foreign affairs;

(3) the Foreign Service of the United States, established under the Act of May 24, 1924 (commonly known as the Rogers Act) and continued by the Foreign Service Act of 1946, must be preserved, strengthened, and improved in order to carry out its mission effectively in response to the complex challenges of modern diplomacy and international relations;

(4) the members of the Foreign Service should be representative of the American people, aware of the principles and history of the United States and informed of current concerns and trends in American life, knowledgeable of the affairs, cultures, and languages of other countries, and available to serve in assignments throughout the world; and

(5) the Foreign Service should be operated on the basis of merit principles.

(b) The objective of this chapter is to strengthen and improve the Foreign Service of the United States by—

(1) assuring, in accordance with merit principles, admission through impartial and rigorous examination, acquisition of career status only by those who have demonstrated their fitness through successful completion of probationary assignments, effective career development, advancement and retention of the ablest, and separation of those who do not meet the requisite standards of performance;

(2) fostering the development and vigorous implementation of policies and procedures, including affirmative action programs, which will facilitate and encourage (A) entry into and advancement in the Foreign Service by persons from all segments of American society, and (B) equal opportunity and fair and equitable treatment for all without regard to political affiliation, race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age, or handicapping condition;

(3) providing for more efficient, economical, and equitable personnel administration through a simplified structure of Foreign Service personnel categories and salaries;

(4) establishing a statutory basis for participation by the members of the Foreign Service, through their elected representatives, in the formulation of personnel policies and procedures which affect their conditions of employment, and maintaining a fair and effective system for the resolution of individual grievances that will ensure the fullest measure of due process for the members of the Foreign Service;

(5) minimizing the impact of the hardships, disruptions, and other unusual conditions of service abroad upon the members of the Foreign Service, and mitigating the special impact of such conditions upon their families;

(6) providing salaries, allowances, and benefits that will permit the Foreign Service to attract and retain qualified personnel as well as a system of incentive payments and awards to encourage and reward outstanding performance;

(7) establishing a Senior Foreign Service which is characterized by strong policy formulation capabilities, outstanding executive leadership qualities, and highly developed functional, foreign language, and area expertise;

(8) improving Foreign Service managerial flexibility and effectiveness;

(9) increasing efficiency and economy by promoting maximum compatibility among the agencies authorized by law to utilize the Foreign Service personnel system, as well as compatibility between the Foreign Service personnel system and other personnel systems of the Government; and

(10) otherwise enabling the Foreign Service to serve effectively the interests of the United States and to provide the highest caliber of representation in the conduct of foreign affairs.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §101, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2074.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Act of May 24, 1924 (commonly known as the Rogers Act), referred to in subsec. (a)(3), is act May 24, 1924, ch. 182, 43 Stat. 140, as amended, which was classified generally to section 1 et seq. of this title and was repealed in large part by section 1131 of title XI of act Aug. 13, 1946, ch. 957, 60 Stat. 1037, known as the Foreign Service Act of 1946, which generally revised the laws relating to the administration of the Foreign Service (see below). For complete classification of Act May 24, 1924 to the Code, see Tables.

The Foreign Service Act of 1946, referred to in subsec. (a)(3), is act Aug. 13, 1946, ch. 957, titles I to X, 60 Stat. 999, as amended, which was classified principally to chapter 14 (§801 et seq.) of this title, and was repealed by Pub. L. 96–465, title II, §2205(1), Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2159, the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as part of the general revision of the laws relating to the administration of the Foreign Service. For complete classification of the 1946 Act to the Code prior to its repeal, see Tables.

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (b), was in the original "this Act", meaning Pub. L. 96–465, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2071, as amended, known as the Foreign Service Act of 1980, which is classified principally to this chapter (§3901 et seq.). For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out below and Tables.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Pub. L. 96–465, title II, §2403, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2169, as amended by Pub. L. 99–93, title I, §119(b), Aug. 16, 1985, 99 Stat. 412, provided that:

"(a) Except as otherwise provided, this Act [see Short Title note set out below] shall take effect on February 15, 1981.

"(b) Personnel actions may be taken on and after the effective date of this Act on the basis of any then current Foreign Service evaluation cycle as if this Act [see Short Title note set out below] had been in effect at the beginning of that cycle.

"[(c) Repealed. Pub. L. 99–93, title I, §119(b), Aug. 16, 1985, 99 Stat. 412, eff. Oct. 1, 1985]

"(d)(1) Section 812 of this Act [section 4052 of this title], and the repeal of sections 631 and 632 of the Foreign Service Act of 1946 [sections 1001 and 1002 of this title] and section 625(k) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 [section 2385(k) of this title], shall be effective as of the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 17, 1980].

"(2) For purposes of implementing section 2101 [section 4151 of this title], sections 402(a) and 403 [sections 3962(a) and 3963 of this title] shall be effective as of the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 17, 1980].

"(e)(1) The provisions of chapter 8 of title I [subchapter VIII of this chapter] regarding the rights of former spouses to any annuity under section 814(a) [section 4054(a) of this title] shall apply in the case of any individual who after the effective date of this Act becomes a former spouse of an individual who separates from the Service after such date.

"(2) Except to the extent provided in section 2109 [section 4159 of this title], the provisions of such chapter [subchapter VIII of this chapter] regarding the rights of former spouses to receive survivor annuities under chapter 8 [subchapter VIII of this chapter] shall apply in the case of any individual who after the effective date of this Act becomes a former spouse of a participant or former participant in the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability System."

Short Title of 2007 Amendment

Pub. L. 110–50, §1, July 30, 2007, 121 Stat. 261, provided that: "This Act [amending section 4064 of this title] may be cited as the 'Passport Backlog Reduction Act of 2007'."

Short Title of 1998 Amendment

Pub. L. 105–382, §1, Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3406, provided that: "This Act [amending sections 4044 to 4046, 4052, 4071a, and 4071d of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 4044 of this title] may be cited as the 'Department of State Special Agents Retirement Act of 1998'."

Short Title of 1986 Amendment

Pub. L. 99–335, title IV, §401(a), June 6, 1986, 100 Stat. 609, provided that: "This title [enacting sections 4068 and 4071 to 4071k of this title, amending sections 4041 to 4049, 4054 to 4056, 4058, 4060, 4061, 4063, 4064, 4066, and 4067 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 4046 of this title] may be cited as the 'Foreign Service Pension System Act of 1986'."

Short Title

Pub. L. 96–465, §1, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2071, provided that: "This Act [enacting this chapter, sections 2697 to 2704 of this title, and sections 3597, 5927, and 5928 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, amending sections 285a, 287, 287e, 287n, 290a, 290g–l, 1928, 2021, 2024, 2056, 2385, 2389, 2391, 2454, 2504, 2506, 2512 to 2514, 2582, 2588, 2605, 2684, 3503 and 4223 of this title, sections 3323, 5102, 5301, 5303, 5304, 5313, 5522, 5523, 5541, 5595, 5596, 5724, 5727, 5924, 5925, 6301, 6304, 6305, 7103, 8332, and 8501 of Title 5, and Reorg. Plan No. 2 of 1939 set out in the Appendix to Title 5, sections 1765a and 1766c of Title 7, Agriculture, section 2002 of Title 10, Armed Forces, section 906 of Title 20, Education, sections 104, 170, 912, and 2055 of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code, section 822a of former Title 31, Money and Finance, section 405a of Title 37, Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed Services, former section 235 of Title 38, Veterans' Benefits, and section 5055 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, repealing subchapters I to X of chapter 14 (§801 et seq.) of this title and sections 1221 to 1234, 2679a, 2680a, and 2693 of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and section 2651 of this title, and repealing provisions set out as notes under sections 801, 808, 811a, 886, 889, 912, 913, 936, 1002, 1076, 1079d, 1229, and 2384 of this title] may be cited as the 'Foreign Service Act of 1980'."

Executive Documents

Executive Order No. 11636

Ex. Ord. No. 11636, Dec. 17, 1971, 36 F.R. 24901, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 12027, Dec. 5, 1977, 42 F.R. 61851; Ex. Ord. No. 12107, Dec. 28, 1978, 44 F.R. 1055; Ex. Ord. No. 12128, Apr. 4, 1979, 44 F.R. 20625, which related to employee-management relations in the Foreign Service of the United States, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 12292, §10(j), Feb. 23, 1981, 46 F.R. 13967, set out below.

Ex. Ord. No. 12292. Conformance of Existing Executive Orders to Changes Resulting From the Foreign Service Act of 1980

Ex. Ord. No. 12292, Feb. 23, 1981, 46 F.R. 13967, provided:

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, including the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (94 Stat. 2071; 22 U.S.C. 3901 et seq.), and in order to conform existing Executive Orders to changes resulting from that Act, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Section 1(k) of Executive Order No. 9154, as amended, is amended by inserting immediately before the period at the end thereof a comma and the words "or under authority of section 303 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3943)".

Sec. 2. Section 1 of Executive Order No. 10471 is amended as follows:

(a) strike out "section 202(c) of the Annual and Sick Leave Act of 1951, as added by the act of July 2, 1953, Public Law 102, 83rd Congress" and insert in lieu thereof "section 6305(b) of title 5 of the United States Code";

(b) strike out "said section 202(c)(2)" and insert in lieu thereof "said section 6305(b)";

(c) strike out "section 411 of the Foreign Service Act of 1946" and insert in lieu thereof "section 401 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3961)".

Sec. 3. Section 2 of Executive Order No. 10624, as amended, is amended as follows:

(a) In clause (1), strike out "Title II of the Overseas Differentials and Allowances Act" and insert in lieu thereof "subchapter III of chapter 59 of title 5 of the United States Code";

(b) Clause (2) is amended to read as follows: "so much of the authority vested in the Secretary of State by chapter 9 of Title I of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 [22 U.S.C. 4081 et seq.], as relates to allowances and benefits under the said chapter 9 of title I;"

Sec. 4. Executive Order No. 10903 is amended as follows:

(a) In the preamble, strike out "section 303 of the Foreign Service Act of 1946 (22 U.S.C. 843),";

(b) In section 1(a) strike out "section 111(3) of the Overseas Differentials and Allowances Act (74 Stat. 792)" and insert in lieu thereof "section 5921(3) of title 5, United States Code,";

(c) In Section 1(b):

(1) strike out "Title II of the Overseas Differentials and Allowances Act" and insert in lieu thereof "subchapter III of chapter 59 of title 5 of the United States Code,";

(2) strike out "202, 203, and 221(4)(B) of that Act" and insert in lieu thereof "5922(b), 5922(c), and 5924(4)(B) of that title";

(3) strike out "Title II of the Act" and insert in lieu thereof "said subchapter".

(d) In Section 1(c), strike out "section 22 of the Administrative Expenses Act of 1946 (added by section 311(a) of the Overseas Differentials and Allowances Act)" and insert in lieu thereof "section 5913 of title 5 of the United States Code".

(e) In Section 1(e):

(1) strike out "235(a)(2)" and insert in lieu thereof "235(2)"; and

(2) strike out "section 901 of the Foreign Service Act of 1946, as amended" and insert in lieu thereof "section 905 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4085)".

(f) strike out paragraphs (d) and (f) of Section 1 and redesignate paragraphs (e) and (g) thereof as paragraphs (d) and (e), respectively.

Sec. 5. Executive Order No. 11034 is amended by striking out in Section 5(c) after "provided by section" all that follows in that sentence and inserting in lieu thereof "310 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3950).".

Sec. 6. Executive Order No. 11219 is amended as follows:

(a) Section 1 is amended by striking out "officer or employee" and inserting in lieu thereof "member";

(b) Section 1(b) is amended by inserting after "as amended," "the Foreign Service Act of 1980," [this chapter] and by striking out "that Act" and inserting in lieu thereof "the latter Act";

(c) Section 5 is amended by striking out "an officer or employee in" and inserting in lieu thereof "a member of" and by inserting after "as amended," "the Foreign Service Act of 1980," [this chapter] and by striking out "that Act" and inserting in lieu thereof "the latter Act".

Sec. 7. Executive Order No. 12137 is amended as follows:

(a) Section 1–111 is amended by striking out "1946, as amended" and inserting in lieu thereof "1980" [this chapter].

(b) Section 1–401 is amended by striking out "528 of the Foreign Service Act of 1946 (22 U.S.C. 928)" and inserting in lieu thereof, "310 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3950)".

Sec. 8. Executive Order No. 12163 is amended as follows:

(a) Section 1–201(a)(14) is revoked.

(b) Section 1–201(b) is amended by inserting "and" after "602(q)," and by striking out "and 625(k)(1)";

(c) Section 1–602(a) is amended by striking out "625(d)(1)" each time it appears and inserting in lieu thereof "625(d)".

(d) Section 1–602(b) is amended by striking out "section 528 of the Foreign Service Act of 1946" and inserting in lieu thereof "section 310 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3950)".

(e) Section 1–603 is amended by striking out after "allowances", all that follows through "Foreign Service Act of 1946 (22 U.S.C. 801 et seq.)," and inserting in lieu thereof "authorized for a chief of mission as defined in section 102(a)(3) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3902(a)(3)),".

Sec. 9. Executive Order No. 12228 is amended as follows:

(a) Section 1–102(c)(1) is amended by striking out "Section 911(9) of the Foreign Service Act of 1946, as amended (22 U.S.C. 1136(9))" and inserting in lieu thereof "Section 901(6) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4081(6))";

(b) Section 1–103 is amended by striking out "Foreign Service Act of 1946, as amended" and inserting in lieu thereof "Foreign Service Act of 1980" [this chapter].

Sec. 10. The following are hereby revoked:

(a) Executive Order No. 9452 of June 26, 1944;

(b) Executive Order No. 9799 of November 8, 1946;

(c) Executive Order No. 9837 of March 27, 1947;

(d) Executive Order No. 9932 of February 27, 1948;

(e) Executive Order No. 10249 of June 4, 1951;

(f) Section 2 of Executive Order No. 10477 of August 1, 1953 [22 U.S.C. 1472 note];

(g) Executive Order No. 10897 of December 2, 1960;

(h) Part III of Executive Order No. 11264 of December 31, 1965, as amended [22 U.S.C. 3930 note];

(i) Sections 1, 3, and 5 of Executive Order No. 11434 of November 8, 1968;

(j) Executive Order No. 11636 of December 17, 1971;

(k) Executive Order No. 12066 of June 29, 1978;

(l) Executive Order No. 12145 of July 18, 1979;

(m) Section 1–104(b) of Executive Order No. 12188 of January 2, 1980 [19 U.S.C. 2171 note].

Sec. 11. This Order shall be effective as of February 15, 1981.

Ronald Reagan.      

Ex. Ord. No. 12293. Administration of Foreign Service

Ex. Ord. No. 12293, Feb. 23, 1981, 46 F.R. 13969, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 12363, May 21, 1982, 47 F.R. 22497; Ex. Ord. No. 12388, Oct. 14, 1982, 47 F.R. 46245; Ex. Ord. No. 12536, Oct. 9, 1985, 50 F.R. 41477; Ex. Ord. No. 13118, §10(4), Mar. 31, 1999, 64 F.R. 16598; Ex. Ord. No. 13325, Jan. 23, 2004, 69 F.R. 4217; Ex. Ord. No. 13374, Mar. 14, 2005, 70 F.R. 12961, provided:

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, including the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (94 Stat. 2071, 22 U.S.C. 3901 et seq.), Section 202 of the Revised Statutes (22 U.S.C. 2656), and Section 301 of Title 3 of the United States Code, and in order to provide for the administration of the Foreign Service of the United States, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. There are hereby delegated to the Secretary of State those functions vested in the President by Sections 205, 401(a), 502(c), 613, and 801 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, hereinafter referred to as the Act (22 U.S.C. 3925, 3942(a)(1), 3892(c) [3982(c)], 4013, and 4041).

Sec. 2. The Secretary of State shall, in accord with Section 205 of the Act (22 U.S.C. 3925), consult with the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Commerce, the Director of the United States Information Agency, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, in order to ensure compatibility between the Foreign Service personnel system and other government personnel systems.

Sec. 3. The Secretary of State shall make recommendations to the President through the Director of the Office of Management and Budget whenever action is appropriate under Section 827 of the Act (22 U.S.C. 4067) to maintain existing conformity between the Civil Service Retirement and Disability System and the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability System.

Sec. 4. Pursuant to section 402 of the Foreign Service Act [of 1980] (22 U.S.C. 3962), and subject to any restrictions therein, there are established the following salary classes with titles for the Senior Foreign Service, at the following ranges of basic rates of pay:

(a) Career Minister

 Range from 100 percent of the minimum rate of basic pay for senior-level positions under 5 U.S.C. 5376 to 100 percent of the rate payable for level II of the Executive Schedule.

(b) Minister-Counselor

 Range from 100 percent of the minimum rate of basic pay for senior-level positions under 5 U.S.C. 5376 to 107 percent of the rate payable for level III of the Executive Schedule.

(c) Counselor

 Range from 100 percent of the minimum rate of basic pay for senior-level positions under 5 U.S.C. 5376 to 102 percent of the rate payable for level III of the Executive Schedule.

Sec. 5. There is hereby delegated to the Secretary of State, without further action by the President, the authority vested in the President by Section 2107 of the Act [22 U.S.C. 4157] to the extent necessary to implement the provisions of Section 2101 of the Act [22 U.S.C. 4151], relating to pay and benefits pending conversion.

Sec. 6. (a) Pursuant to Section 211 of the Act (22 U.S.C. 3931), there is established in the Department of State the Board of Examiners for the Foreign Service.

(b) The Board shall be appointed by, and in accordance with regulations prescribed by, the Secretary of State, except that not less than five shall be career members of the Foreign Service and not less than seven shall be appointed as follows.

(1) not less than five shall be appointed by the heads of the agencies utilizing the Foreign Service personnel system;

(2) not less than one shall be a representative appointed by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management; and

(3) not less than one shall be a representative appointed by the Secretary of Labor.

(c) The Secretary of State shall designate from among the members of the Board a Chairman who is a member of the Service.

(d) The Secretary of State shall provide all necessary administrative services and facilities for the Board.

Sec. 7. For the purpose of ensuring the accuracy of information used in the administration of the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability System, the Secretary of State may request from the Secretary of Defense and the Administrator of Veterans Affairs such information as the Secretary deems necessary. To the extent permitted by law: (a) The Secretary of Defense shall provide information on retired or retainer pay provided under Title 10, United States Code; and, (b) the Administrator of Veterans Affairs shall provide information on pensions or compensation provided under Title 38 of the United States Code. The Secretary, in consultation with the officials from whom information is requested, shall ensure that information made available under this Order is used only for the purpose authorized.

Sec. 8. The first seven Sections of this Order shall be effective as of February 15, 1981.

Sec. 9. (a) Pursuant to Section 210 of the Act there is established in the Department of State the Board of the Foreign Service (22 U.S.C. 3930).

(b) The Board shall be composed of the designated number of representatives of the heads of the following agencies:

(1) Department of State, four members, at least three of whom must be career members of the Senior Foreign Service;

(2) United States Information Agency, two members, one of whom must be a career member of the Senior Foreign Service;

(3) United States Agency for International Development, two members, one of whom must be a career member of the Senior Foreign Service;

(4) Department of Agriculture, two members, one of whom must be a career member of the Senior Foreign Service;

(5) Department of Commerce, two members, one of whom must be a career member of the Senior Foreign Service;

(6) Department of Labor, one member;

(7) Office of Personnel Management, one member;

(8) Office of Management and Budget, one member; and,

(9) Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, one member;

(c) The membership of the Board shall be selected from among officials who are knowledgeable in matters concerning the management of the Foreign Service. Except for the career members of the Senior Foreign Service from the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Commerce, the United States Information Agency, and the United States Agency for International Development, the members of the Board shall be selected from among those who have the rank of Assistant Secretary or higher or a position of comparable responsibility.

(d) The Secretary of State may from time to time request the heads of other agencies to designate representatives to participate in the functions of the Board on a regular or occasional basis.

(e) The Secretary of State shall provide all necessary administrative services and facilities for the Board.

Sec. 10. Pursuant to Section 202(a)(2)(B) and (a)(3)(B) of the Act (22 U.S.C. 3922(a)(2)(B), (a)(3)(B)), it is hereby determined to be necessary, in order to enable the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Commerce to carry out functions which require service abroad, for the respective Secretaries, in consultation with the Office of Personnel Management and the Office of Management and Budget, to be able to utilize the Foreign Service personnel system with respect to personnel of the following:

(a) The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the Department of Agriculture, not to exceed 125 positions, without the prior approval of the Director of the Office of Personnel Management;

(b) The United States Travel and Tourism Administration, and the International Trade Administration of the Department of Commerce, not to exceed 30 positions without the prior approval of the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, and providing that assignments to such positions be administered consistent with policies of the Foreign Commercial Service established under Executive Order No. 12188 [19 U.S.C. 2171 note].

[For abolition of United States Information Agency (other than Broadcasting Board of Governors and International Broadcasting Bureau), transfer of functions, and treatment of references thereto, see sections 6531, 6532, and 6551 of this title.]

§3902. Definitions

As used in this chapter, the term—

(1) "abroad" means all areas not included within the United States;

(2) "agency" means an agency as defined in section 552(e) ¹ of title 5;

(3) "chief of mission" means the principal officer in charge of a diplomatic mission of the United States or of a United States office abroad which is designated by the Secretary of State as diplomatic in nature, including any individual assigned under section 3982(c) of this title to be temporarily in charge of such a mission or office;

(4) "Department" means the Department of State, except that with reference to the exercise of functions under this chapter with respect to another agency authorized by law to utilize the Foreign Service personnel system, such term means that other agency;

(5) "employee" (except as provided in section 4102(8) of this title) means, when used with respect to an agency or to the Government generally, an officer or employee (including a member of the Service) or a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service, or the commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;

(6) "function" includes any duty, obligation, power, authority, responsibility, right, privilege, discretion, or activity;

(7) "Government" means the Government of the United States;

(8) "merit principles" means the principles set out in section 2301(b) of title 5;

(9) "principal officer" means the officer in charge of a diplomatic mission, consular mission (other than a consular agency), or other Foreign Service post;

(10) "Secretary" means the Secretary of State, except that (subject to section 3921 of this title) with reference to the exercise of functions under this Act with respect to any agency authorized by law to utilize the Foreign Service personnel system, such term means the head of that agency;

(11) "Service" or "Foreign Service" means the Foreign Service of the United States; and

(12) "United States", when used in a geographic sense, means the several States and the District of Columbia.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §102, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2075; Pub. L. 98–164, title I, §130(a), Nov. 22, 1983, 97 Stat. 1027.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 552(e) of title 5, referred to in par. (2), was redesignated section 552(f) of title 5 by section 1802(b) of Pub. L. 99–570.

Amendments

1983—Pub. L. 98–164 struck out "(a)" before "As used in this chapter", and struck out subsec. (b) which provided that references to Foreign Service officers in any provision be deemed to refer to, with respect to the United States Information Agency, Foreign Service Information officers.

¹ See References in Text note below.

§3903. Members of Service

The following are the members of the Service:

(1) Chiefs of mission, appointed under section 3942(a)(1) of this title or assigned under section 3982(c) of this title.

(2) Ambassadors at large, appointed under section 3942(a)(1) of this title.

(3) Members of the Senior Foreign Service, appointed under section 3942(a)(1) or 3943 of this title, who are the corps of leaders and experts for the management of the Service and the performance of its functions.

(4) Foreign Service officers, appointed under section 3942(a)(1) of this title, who have general responsibility for carrying out the functions of the Service.

(5) Foreign Service personnel, United States citizens appointed under section 3943 of this title, who provide skills and services required for effective performance by the Service.

(6) Foreign national employees, foreign nationals appointed under section 3943 of this title, who provide clerical, administrative, technical, fiscal, and other support at Foreign Service posts abroad.

(7) Consular agents, appointed under section 3943 of this title by the Secretary of State, who provide consular and related services as authorized by the Secretary of State at specified locations abroad where no Foreign Service posts are situated.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §103, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2076.)

§3904. Functions of Service

Members of the Service shall, under the direction of the Secretary—

(1) represent the interests of the United States in relation to foreign countries and international organizations, and perform the functions relevant to their appointments and assignments, including (as appropriate) functions under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, other international agreements to which the United States is a party, the laws of the United States, and orders, regulations, and directives issued pursuant to law;

(2) provide guidance for the formulation and conduct of programs and activities of the Department and other agencies which relate to the foreign relations of the United States; and

(3) perform functions on behalf of any agency or other Government establishment (including any establishment in the legislative or judicial branch) requiring their services.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §104, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2076.)

§3905. Personnel actions

(a) Merit principles; "personnel action" defined

(1) All personnel actions with respect to career members and career candidates in the Service (including applicants for career candidate appointments) shall be made in accordance with merit principles.

(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), the term "personnel action" means—

(A) any appointment, promotion, assignment (including assignment to any position or salary class), award of performance pay or special differential, within-class salary increase, separation, or performance evaluation, and

(B) any decision, recommendation, examination, or ranking provided for under this chapter which relates to any action referred to in subparagraph (A).

(b) Rules and regulations; discrimination; reprisals for disclosure of information; submission of reports, evaluations, or recommendations; freedom from prohibited personnel practices

The Secretary shall administer the provisions of this chapter and shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to ensure that members of the Service, as well as applicants for appointments in the Service—

(1) are free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, handicapping condition, marital status, geographic or educational affiliation within the United States, or political affiliation, as prohibited under section 2302(b)(1) of title 5;

(2) are free from reprisal for—

(A) a disclosure of information by a member or applicant which the member or applicant reasonably believes evidences—

(i) a violation of any law, rule, or regulation, or

(ii) mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety,

if such disclosure is not specifically prohibited by law and if such information is not specifically required by Executive order to be kept secret in the interest of national defense or the conduct of foreign affairs; or

(B) a disclosure to the Special Counsel of the Merit Systems Protection Board, or to the Inspector General of an agency (including the Inspector General of the Department of State and the Foreign Service) or another employee designated by the head of the agency to receive such disclosures, of information which the member or applicant reasonably believes evidences—

(i) a violation of any law, rule, or regulation, or

(ii) mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety;

(3) are free to submit to officials of the Service and the Department any report, evaluation, or recommendation, including the right to submit such report, evaluation, or recommendation through a separate dissent channel, whether or not the views expressed therein are in accord with approved policy, unless the report, evaluation, or recommendation was submitted with the knowledge that it was false or with willful disregard for its truth or falsity; and

(4) are free from any personnel practice prohibited by section 2302 of title 5.

(c) Withholding or disclosure of information to Congress

This section shall not be construed as authorizing the withholding of information from the Congress or the taking of any action against a member of the Service who discloses information to the Congress.

(d) Minority recruitment program

(1) The Secretary shall establish a minority recruitment program for the Service consistent with section 7201 of title 5.

(2) Omitted.

(e) Applicability to other judicial or statutory rights or remedies

This section shall not be construed to extinguish or lessen any effort to achieve equal employment opportunity through affirmative action or any right or remedy available to any employee or applicant for employment in the civil service under—

(1) section 2000e–16 of title 42, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin;

(2) sections 631 and 633a of title 29, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of age;

(3) section 206(d) of title 29, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex;

(4) sections 791 and 794a of title 29, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of handicapping condition; or

(5) any provision of law, rule, or regulation prohibiting discrimination on the basis of marital status or political affiliation.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §105, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2077; Pub. L. 100–204, title I, §185(a), Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1365; Pub. L. 101–246, title I, §153(d), Feb. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 43.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Subsec. (d)(2) of this section, which required the Secretary to transmit at least once annually to the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives the Department's reports on equal employment opportunity, affirmative action, and minority recruitment programs, which reports are required by law, regulation, or directive to be submitted to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), terminated, effective May 15, 2000, pursuant to section 3003 of Pub. L. 104–66, as amended, set out as a note under section 1113 of Title 31, Money and Finance. See, also, page 129 of House Document No. 103–7.

Amendments

1990—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 101–246 inserted "geographic or educational affiliation within the United States," after "marital status,".

1987—Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 100–204 amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: "Not later than January 31 of each year, the Secretary shall transmit to each House of the Congress a report, signed by the Secretary, on the activities of the Secretary under paragraph (1). Such report shall include any affirmative action plans submitted by the Secretary under section 2000e–16 of title 42 and any data necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of the program under paragraph (1) for the preceding fiscal year, together with recommendations for administrative or legislative action the Secretary considers appropriate."

SUBCHAPTER II—MANAGEMENT OF SERVICE

§3921. Administration by Secretary of State

(a) Under the direction of the President, the Secretary of State shall administer and direct the Service and shall coordinate its activities with the needs of the Department of State and other agencies.

(b) The Secretary of State alone among the heads of agencies utilizing the Foreign Service personnel system shall perform the functions expressly vested in the Secretary of State by this chapter.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §201, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2078.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (b), was in the original "this Act", meaning Pub. L. 96–465, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2071, as amended, known as the Foreign Service Act of 1980, which is classified principally to this chapter (§3901 et seq.). For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 3901 of this title and Tables.

§3922. Utilization of Foreign Service personnel system by other agencies

(a)(1) The Broadcasting Board of Governors and the Administrator of the Agency for International Development may utilize the Foreign Service personnel system with respect to their respective agencies in accordance with this chapter.

(2) The Secretary of Agriculture may utilize the Foreign Service personnel system in accordance with this chapter—

(A) with respect to personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service, and

(B) with respect to other personnel of the Department of Agriculture to the extent the President determines to be necessary in order to enable the Department of Agriculture to carry out functions which require service abroad.

(3) The Secretary of Commerce may utilize the Foreign Service personnel system in accordance with this chapter—

(A) with respect to the personnel performing functions transferred to the Department of Commerce from the Department of State by Reorganization Plan Numbered 3 of 1979, and

(B) with respect to other personnel of the Department of Commerce to the extent the President determines to be necessary in order to enable the Department of Commerce to carry out functions which require service abroad.

(4)(A) Whenever (and to the extent) the Secretary of State considers it in the best interests of the United States Government, the Secretary of State may authorize the head of any agency or other Government establishment (including any establishment in the legislative or judicial branch) to appoint under section 3943 of this title individuals described in subparagraph (B) as members of the Service and to utilize the Foreign Service personnel system with respect to such individuals under such regulations as the Secretary of State may prescribe.

(B) The individuals referred to in subparagraph (A) are individuals eligible for employment abroad under section 3951(a) of this title.

(b) Subject to section 3921(b) of this title—

(1) the agency heads referred to in subsection (a), and

(2) the head of any other agency (to the extent authority to utilize the Foreign Service personnel system is granted to such agency head under any other chapter),

shall in the case of their respective agencies exercise the functions vested in the Secretary by this chapter.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §202, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2078; Pub. L. 97–241, title III, §303(b), Aug. 24, 1982, 96 Stat. 291; Pub. L. 105–277, div. G, subdiv. A, title XIII, §1335(k)(1), title XIV, §1422(b)(4)(A), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–789, 2681-793; Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, §1000(a)(7) [div. A, title III, §332], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A-439.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Reorganization Plan Numbered 3 of 1979, referred to in subsec. (a)(3)(A), is Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1979, 44 F.R. 69273, 93 Stat. 1381, which is set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Amendments

1999—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 106–113 added par. (4).

1998—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 105–277, §1422(b)(4)(A), substituted "Administrator of the Agency for International Development" for "Director of the United States International Development Cooperation Agency".

Pub. L. 105–277, §1335(k)(1), substituted "Broadcasting Board of Governors" for "Director of the United States Information Agency".

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Broadcasting Board of Governors renamed United States Agency for Global Media pursuant to section 6204(a)(22) of this title. The renaming was effectuated by notice to congressional appropriations committees dated May 24, 2018, and became effective Aug. 22, 2018.

"Director of the United States Information Agency" substituted for "Director of the International Communication Agency" in subsec. (a)(1), pursuant to section 303(b) of Pub. L. 97–241, set out as a note under section 1461 of this title.

Effective Date of 1998 Amendment

Amendment by section 1335(k)(1) of Pub. L. 105–277 effective Oct. 1, 1999, see section 1301 of Pub. L. 105–277, set out as an Effective Date note under section 6531 of this title.

Amendment by section 1422(b)(4) of Pub. L. 105–277 effective Apr. 1, 1999, see section 1401 of Pub. L. 105–277, set out as an Effective Date note under section 6561 of this title.

Executive Documents

Exercise of Certain Functions by Board of the Foreign Service and Board of Examiners for the Foreign Service

The Board of the Foreign Service and the Board of Examiners for the Foreign Service were authorized to exercise with respect to Foreign Service personnel of the Department of Commerce, functions delegated to them by Ex. Ord. No. 11264, set out as a note under section 3930 of this title, respecting Foreign Service personnel of the Department of State, see section 1–104(c) of Ex. Ord. No. 12188, Jan. 2, 1980, 45 F.R. 991, set out as a note under section 2171 of Title 19, Customs Duties.

Ex. Ord. No. 10522. Authority of the Director of the United States Information Agency

Ex. Ord. No. 10522, Mar. 26, 1954, 19 F.R. 1689, provided:

Section 1. The Director of the United States Information Agency is hereby authorized to carry out the functions of the Board of the Foreign Service, provided for by the Foreign Service Act of 1946 (60 Stat. 999) [this chapter], with respect to personnel appointed or assigned for service in the United States Information Agency under the provisions of such Act, as amended [this chapter]: Provided, That nothing herein contained shall be construed as transferring to the said Director any function of the said Board relating to any Foreign Service Officer.

Sec. 2. The Director of the United States Information Agency is hereby authorized to prescribe such regulations and issue such orders and instructions, not inconsistent with law, as may be necessary or desirable for carrying out his functions under section 1 of this order.

Dwight D. Eisenhower.      

[For abolition of United States Information Agency (other than Broadcasting Board of Governors and International Broadcasting Bureau), transfer of functions, and treatment of references thereto, see sections 6531, 6532, and 6551 of this title.]

§3922a. Representation of minorities and women in Foreign Service

(a) Development of program

The head of each agency utilizing the Foreign Service personnel system shall develop, consistent with section 7201 of title 5, a plan designed to increase significantly the number of members of minority groups and women in the Foreign Service in that agency.

(b) Emphasis on mid-levels

Each plan developed pursuant to this section shall, consistent with section 7201 of title 5, place particular emphasis on achieving significant increases in the numbers of minority group members and women who are in the mid-levels of the Foreign Service.

(Pub. L. 99–93, title I, §152, Aug. 16, 1985, 99 Stat. 428; Pub. L. 100–204, title I, §185(c)(3), Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1366.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1986 and 1987, and not as part of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 which comprises this chapter.

Amendments

1987—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 100–204 struck out subsec. (c) which read as follows: "The head of each agency utilizing the Foreign Service personnel system shall report annually to the Congress on the plan developed pursuant to this section as part of the report required to be submitted pursuant to section 3905(d)(2) of this title. Subsequent reports pursuant to that section shall include reports on the implementation of these plans, giving particular attention to the progress being made in increasing, through advancement and promotion, the numbers of members of minority groups and women in the mid-levels of the Foreign Service."

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Report Concerning Minorities and the Foreign Service

Pub. L. 105–277, div. G, subdiv. B, title XXIII, §2318, Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–829, required the Secretary of State to submit, in calendar years 1998 and 1999, a report to Congress concerning minorities and the Foreign Service officer corps, with relevant information and specified data.

Mid-Level Women and Minority Placement Program

Pub. L. 103–236, title I, §178, Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 414, provided that:

"(a) Purpose.—It is the purpose of this section to promote the acquisition and retention of highly qualified, trained, and experienced women and minority personnel within the Foreign Service, to provide the maximum opportunity for the Foreign Service to meet staffing needs and to acquire the services of experienced and talented women and minority personnel, and to help alleviate the impact of downsizing, reduction-in-force, and budget restrictions occurring in the defense and national security-related agencies of the United States.

"(b) Establishment.—For each of the fiscal years 1994 and 1995, the Secretary of State shall to the maximum extent practicable appoint to the Foreign Service qualified women and minority applicants who are participants in the priority placement program of the Department of Defense, the Department of Defense out-placement referral program, the Office of Personnel Management Automated Applicant Referral System, or the Office of Personnel Management Interagency Placement Program. The Secretary shall make such appointments through the mid-level entry program of the Department of State under section 306 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 [22 U.S.C. 3946].

"(c) Report.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Apr. 30, 1994], the Secretary of State shall prepare and submit a report concerning the implementation of subsection (a) to the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Such report shall include recommendations on methods to improve implementation of the purpose of this section."

Women and Minorities in Foreign Service

Pub. L. 100–204, title I, §183, Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1364, provided that:

"(a) Findings.—The Congress finds that the Department of State and other Foreign Service agencies have not been successful in their efforts—

"(1) to recruit and retain members of minority groups in order to increase significantly the number of members of minority groups in the Foreign Service; and

"(2) to provide adequate career advancement for women and members of minority groups in order to increase significantly the numbers of women and members of minority groups in the senior levels of the Foreign Service.

"(b) A More Representative Foreign Service.—The Secretary of State and the head of each of the other agencies utilizing the Foreign Service personnel system—

"(1) shall substantially increase their efforts to implement effectively the plans required by section 152(a) of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1986 and 1987 [22 U.S.C. 3922a(a)], so that the Foreign Service becomes truly representative of the American people throughout all levels of the Foreign Service; and

"(2) shall ensure that those plans effectively address the need to promote increased numbers of qualified women and members of minority groups into the senior levels of the Foreign Service.

"(c) Department of State Hiring Practices of Minorities and Women.—The Secretary of State shall include annually as part of the report required to be submitted pursuant to section 105(d)(2) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 [former 22 U.S.C. 3905(d)(2)]—

"(1) a report on the progress made at the Assistant Secretary and Bureau level of the Department of State in increasing the presence of minorities and women at all levels in the Foreign Service and Civil Service workforces of the Department of State, and

"(2) the specific actions taken to address the lack of Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, and Native Americans in the Senior Executive Service and Senior Foreign Service of the Department of State."

§3922b. Public diplomacy training

(a) Statement of policy

The following should be the policy of the United States:

(1) The Foreign Service should recruit individuals with expertise and professional experience in public diplomacy.

(2) United States chiefs of mission should have a prominent role in the formulation of public diplomacy strategies for the countries and regions to which they are assigned and should be accountable for the operation and success of public diplomacy efforts at their posts.

(3) Initial and subsequent training of Foreign Service officers should be enhanced to include information and training on public diplomacy and the tools and technology of mass communication.

(b) Personnel

(1) Qualifications

In the recruitment, training, and assignment of members of the Foreign Service, the Secretary of State—

(A) should emphasize the importance of public diplomacy and applicable skills and techniques;

(B) should consider the priority recruitment into the Foreign Service, including at middle-level entry, of individuals with expertise and professional experience in public diplomacy, mass communications, or journalism; and

(C) shall give special consideration to individuals with language facility and experience in particular countries and regions.

(2) Languages of special interest

The Secretary of State shall seek to increase the number of Foreign Service officers proficient in languages spoken in countries with predominantly Muslim populations. Such increase should be accomplished through the recruitment of new officers and incentives for officers in service.

(Pub. L. 108–458, title VII, §7110, Dec. 17, 2004, 118 Stat. 3793.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section is comprised of section 7110 of Pub. L. 108–458. Subsec. (c) of section 7110 of Pub. L. 108–458 amended section 4003 of this title.

Section was enacted as part of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, and also as part of the 9/11 Commission Implementation Act of 2004, and not as part of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 which comprises this chapter.

§3922c. Integration of foreign economic policy

(a) In general

The Secretary, in conjunction with the Under Secretary of Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, shall establish—

(1) foreign economic policy priorities for each regional bureau, including for individual countries, as appropriate; and

(2) policies and guidance for integrating such foreign economic policy priorities throughout the Department.

(b) Deputy Assistant Secretary

Within each regional bureau of the Department, the Secretary shall task an existing Deputy Assistant Secretary with appropriate training and background in economic and commercial affairs with the responsibility for economic matters and interests within the responsibilities of each such regional bureau, including the integration of the foreign economic policy priorities established pursuant to subsection (a).

(c) Training

The Secretary shall establish curriculum at the George P. Shultz National Foreign Affairs Training Center to develop the practical foreign economic policy expertise and skill sets of Foreign Service officers, including by making available distance-learning courses in commercial, economic, and business affairs, including in the following:

(1) The global business environment.

(2) The economics of development.

(3) Development and infrastructure finance.

(4) Current trade and investment agreements negotiations.

(5) Implementing existing multilateral and World Trade Organization agreements, and United States trade and investment agreements.

(6) Best practices for customs and export procedures.

(7) Market analysis and global supply chain management.

(Pub. L. 114–323, title IV, §406, Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1929.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Department of State Authorities Act, Fiscal Year 2017, and not as part of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 which comprises this chapter.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Definitions

For definitions of "Secretary", "Department", and "Foreign Service" as used in this section, see section 2 of Pub. L. 114–323, set out as a note under section 2651 of this title.

§3923. Compatibility among agencies utilizing Foreign Service personnel system

(a) The Service shall be administered to the extent practicable in a manner that will assure maximum compatibility among the agencies authorized by law to utilize the Foreign Service personnel system. To this end, the other heads of such agencies shall consult regularly with the Secretary of State.

(b) Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed as diminishing the authority of the head of any agency authorized by law to utilize the Foreign Service personnel system.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §203, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2079.)

§3924. Uniform and consolidated administration of Service

The Secretary shall on a continuing basis consider the need for uniformity of personnel policies and procedures and for consolidation (in accordance with section 2695 of this title) of personnel functions among agencies utilizing the Foreign Service personnel system. Where feasible, the Secretary of State shall encourage (in consultation with the other heads of such agencies) the development of uniform policies and procedures and consolidated personnel functions.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §204, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2079.)

§3925. Compatibility between Foreign Service and other Government personnel systems

The Service shall be administered to the extent practicable in conformity with general policies and regulations of the Government. The Secretary shall consult with the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and the heads of such other agencies as the President shall determine, in order to assure compatibility of the Foreign Service personnel system with other Government personnel systems to the extent practicable.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §205, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2079.)

Executive Documents

Delegation of Functions

Functions of President under this section delegated to Secretary of State, see section 1 of Ex. Ord. No. 12293, Feb. 23, 1981, 46 F.R. 13969, set out as a note under section 3901 of this title.

Consultation With Other Federal Departments and Agencies

For authority for the Secretary of State to consult with the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Commerce, the Director of the United States Information Agency, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to ensure compatibility between the Foreign Service personnel system and other government personnel systems, see section 2 of Ex. Ord. No. 12293, Feb. 23, 1981, 46 F.R. 13969, as amended, set out as note under section 3901 of this title.

§3926. Regulations; delegation of functions

(a) The Secretary may prescribe such regulations as the Secretary deems appropriate to carry out functions under this chapter.

(b) The Secretary may delegate functions under this chapter which are vested in the Secretary to any employee of the Department or any member of the Service.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §206, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2079.)

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Regulations Regarding Foreign Language Competence Within Foreign Service

Pub. L. 103–236, title I, §191(a), Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 418, as amended by Pub. L. 103–415, §1(u), Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4302, provided that: "Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Apr. 30, 1994], the Secretary of State shall promulgate regulations—

"(1) establishing hiring preferences for Foreign Service Officer candidates competent in languages, with priority preference given to those languages in which the Department of State has a deficit;

"(2) establishing a standard that employees will not receive long-term training in more than 3 languages, and requiring that employees achieve full professional proficiency (S4/R4) in 1 language as a condition for training in a third, with exceptions for priority needs of the service at the discretion of the Director General;

"(3) requiring that employees receiving long-term training in a language, or hired with a hiring preference for a language, serve at least 2 tours in jobs requiring that language, with exceptions for certain limited-use languages and priority needs of the service at the discretion of the Director General;

"(4) requiring that significant consideration be given to foreign language competence and use in the evaluation, assignment, and promotion of all Foreign Service Officers of the Department of State, the Agency for International Development, and the United States Information Agency;

"(5) requiring the identification of appropriate Washington, D.C. metropolitan area positions as language-designated; and

"(6) requiring remedial training and suspension of language differential payments for employees receiving such payments who have failed to maintain required levels of proficiency."

[For abolition of United States Information Agency (other than Broadcasting Board of Governors and International Broadcasting Bureau), transfer of functions, and treatment of references thereto, see sections 6531, 6532, and 6551 of this title.]

§3927. Chief of mission

(a) Duties

Under the direction of the President, the chief of mission to a foreign country—

(1) shall have full responsibility for the direction, coordination, and supervision of all Government executive branch employees in that country (except for Voice of America correspondents on official assignment and employees under the command of a United States area military commander); and

(2) shall keep fully and currently informed with respect to all activities and operations of the Government within that country, and shall insure that all Government executive branch employees in that country (except for Voice of America correspondents on official assignment and employees under the command of a United States area military commander) comply fully with all applicable directives of the chief of mission.

(b) Duties of agencies with employees in foreign countries

Any executive branch agency having employees in a foreign country shall keep the chief of mission to that country fully and currently informed with respect to all activities and operations of its employees in that country, and shall insure that all of its employees in that country (except for Voice of America correspondents on official assignment and employees under the command of a United States area military commander) comply fully with all applicable directives of the chief of mission.

(c) Promotion of United States goods and services

Each chief of mission to a foreign country shall have as a principal duty the promotion of United States goods and services for export to such country.

(d) Promotion of United States economic interests

Each chief of mission to a foreign country shall have as a principal duty the promotion of United States economic and commercial interests in such country.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §207, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2079; Pub. L. 97–241, title I, §123, Aug. 24, 1982, 96 Stat. 281; Pub. L. 100–204, title I, §136, Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1345; Pub. L. 107–228, div. A, title V, §505(b), Sept. 30, 2002, 116 Stat. 1393; Pub. L. 116–94, div. J, title VII, §704, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 3070.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2019—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 116–94 added subsec. (d).

2002—Subsecs. (a)(1), (2), (b). Pub. L. 107–228 inserted "Voice of America correspondents on official assignment and" after "except for".

1987—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–204, §136(1), (2), inserted "executive branch" after "Government" in par. (1) and after second reference to "Government" in par. (2).

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 100–204, §136(3), inserted "executive branch" after "Any".

1982—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 97–241 added subsec. (c).

§3927a. Review by chief of mission

(a) Review of staff element under chief of mission authority; approval; process

The Secretary of State shall require each chief of mission to review, not less than once every 5 years, every staff element under chief of mission authority, including staff from other departments or agencies of the United States, and recommend approval or disapproval of each staff element. Each such review shall be conducted pursuant to a process established by the President for determining appropriate staffing at diplomatic missions and overseas constituent posts (commonly referred to as the "NSDD–38 process").

(b) Actions by Secretary of State

The Secretary of State, as part of the process established by the President referred to in subsection (a), shall take actions to carry out the recommendations made in each such review.

(Pub. L. 108–447, div. B, title IV, §409, Dec. 8, 2004, 118 Stat. 2904; Pub. L. 112–74, div. I, title VII, §7034(n), Dec. 23, 2011, 125 Stat. 1217.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2005, and also as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005, and not as part of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 which comprises this chapter.

Amendments

2011—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 112–74 struck out subsec. (c). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "Not later than 1 year after December 8, 2004, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of State shall submit a report on such reviews that occurred during the previous 12 months, together with the Secretary's recommendations regarding such reviews to the appropriate committees of Congress, the heads of all affected departments or agencies, and the Inspector General of the Department of State."

§3928. Director General of Foreign Service

The President shall appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, a Director General of the Foreign Service, who shall be a current or former career member of the Foreign Service. The Director General should assist the Secretary of State in the management of the Service and perform such functions as the Secretary of State may prescribe.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §208, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2080; Pub. L. 103–236, title I, §163, Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 411.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1994—Pub. L. 103–236 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section read as follows: "There shall be a Director General of the Foreign Service, who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, from among the career members of the Senior Foreign Service. The Director General shall assist the Secretary of State in the management of the Service and shall perform such functions as the Secretary of State may prescribe."

§3929. Inspector General

(a) Appointment; supervision by Secretary of State; prohibition against interference by State Department with certain duties; inspections, audits, and other functions; removal from office

(1) There shall be an Inspector General of the Department of State and the Foreign Service, who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, without regard to political affiliation from among individuals exceptionally qualified for the position by virtue of their integrity and their demonstrated ability in accounting, auditing, financial analysis, law, management analysis, public administration, or investigations, or their knowledge and experience in the conduct of foreign affairs. The Inspector General shall report to and be under the general supervision of the Secretary of State. Neither the Secretary of State nor any other officer of the Department shall prevent or prohibit the Inspector General from initiating, carrying out, or completing any audit or investigation, or from issuing any subpena during the course of any audit or investigation. The Inspector General shall periodically (at least every 5 years) inspect and audit the administration of activities and operations of each Foreign Service post and each bureau and other operating unit of the Department of State, and shall perform such other functions as the Secretary of State may prescribe, except that the Secretary of State shall not assign to the Inspector General any general program operating responsibilities.

(2) The Inspector General may be removed from office by the President. The President shall communicate the reasons for any such removal to both Houses of Congress.

(b) Subject matter of inspections, investigations, and audits

Inspections, investigations, and audits conducted by or under the direction of the Inspector General shall include the systematic review and evaluation of the administration of activities and operations of Foreign Service posts and bureaus and other operating units of the Department of State, including an examination of—

(1) whether financial transactions and accounts are properly conducted, maintained, and reported;

(2) whether resources are being used and managed with the maximum degree of efficiency, effectiveness, and economy;

(3) whether the administration of activities and operations meets the requirements of applicable laws and regulations and, specifically, whether such administration is consistent with the requirements of section 3905 of this title;

(4) whether there exist instances of fraud or other serious problems, abuses, or deficiencies, and whether adequate steps for detection, correction, and prevention have been taken; and

(5) whether policy goals and objectives are being effectively achieved and whether the interests of the United States are being accurately and effectively represented.

(c) Policies and procedures governing inspection and audit activities; coordination and cooperation with Comptroller General; report to Attorney General on criminal law violations; provision of information to employees; conduct of investigations

(1) The Inspector General shall develop and implement policies and procedures for the inspection and audit activities carried out under this section. These policies and procedures shall be consistent with the general policies and guidelines of the Government for inspection and audit activities and shall comply with the standards established by the Comptroller General of the United States for audits of Government agencies, organizations, programs, activities, and functions.

(2) In carrying out the duties and responsibilities established under this section, the Inspector General shall give particular regard to the activities of the Comptroller General of the United States with a view toward insuring effective coordination and cooperation.

(3) In carrying out the duties and responsibilities established under this section, the Inspector General shall report expeditiously to the Attorney General whenever the Inspector General has reasonable grounds to believe there has been a violation of Federal criminal law.

(4) The Inspector General shall develop and provide to employees—

(A) information detailing their rights to counsel; and

(B) guidelines describing in general terms the policies and procedures of the Office of Inspector General with respect to individuals under investigation other than matters exempt from disclosure under other provisions of law.

(5) Investigations.—

(A) Conduct of investigations.—In conducting investigations of potential violations of Federal criminal law or Federal regulations, the Inspector General shall—

(i) abide by professional standards applicable to Federal law enforcement agencies; and

(ii) make every reasonable effort to permit each subject of an investigation an opportunity to provide exculpatory information.

(B) Final reports of investigations.—In order to ensure that final reports of investigations are thorough and accurate, the Inspector General shall—

(i) make every reasonable effort to ensure that any person named in a final report of investigation has been afforded an opportunity to refute any allegation of wrongdoing or assertion with respect to a material fact made regarding that person's actions;

(ii) include in every final report of investigation any exculpatory information, as well as any inculpatory information, that has been discovered in the course of the investigation.

(6) Required reporting of allegations and investigations and inspector general authority.—

(A) In general.—The head of a bureau, post, or other office of the Department of State (in this paragraph referred to as a "Department entity") shall submit to the Inspector General a report of any allegation of—

(i) waste, fraud, or abuse in a Department program or operation;

(ii) criminal or serious misconduct on the part of a Department employee at the FS–1, GS–15, or GM–15 level or higher;

(iii) criminal misconduct on the part of a Department employee; and

(iv) serious, noncriminal misconduct on the part of any Department employee who is authorized to carry a weapon, make arrests, or conduct searches, such as conduct that, if proved, would constitute perjury or material dishonesty, warrant suspension as discipline for a first offense, or result in loss of law enforcement authority.

(B) Deadline.—The head of a Department entity shall submit to the Inspector General a report of an allegation described in subparagraph (A) not later than 5 business days after the date on which the head of such Department entity is made aware of such allegation.

(d) Reports by Inspector General and Secretary of State

(1) The Inspector General shall keep the Secretary of State fully and currently informed, by means of the reports required by paragraphs (2) and (3) and otherwise, concerning fraud and other serious problems, abuses, and deficiencies relating to the administration of activities and operations administered or financed by the Department of State.

(2) The Inspector General shall, not later than April 30 of each year, prepare and furnish to the Secretary of State an annual report summarizing the activities of the Inspector General. Such report shall include—

(A) a description of significant problems, abuses, and deficiencies relating to the administration of activities and operations of Foreign Service posts, and bureaus and other operating units of the Department of State, which were disclosed by the Inspector General within the reporting period;

(B) a description of the recommendations for corrective action made by the Inspector General during the reporting period with respect to significant problems, abuses, or deficiencies described pursuant to subparagraph (A);

(C) an identification of each significant recommendation described in previous annual reports on which corrective action has not been completed;

(D) a summary of matters referred to prosecutive authorities and the prosecutions and convictions which have resulted;

(E) a listing of each audit report completed by the Inspector General during the reporting period; and

(F) a notification, which may be included, if necessary, in the classified portion of the report, of any instance in a case that was closed during the period covered by the report when the Inspector General decided not to afford an individual the opportunity described in subsection (c)(5)(B)(i) to refute any allegation and the rationale for denying such individual that opportunity.

The Secretary of State shall transmit a copy of such annual report within 30 days after receiving it to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and to other appropriate committees, together with a report of the Secretary of State containing any comments which the Secretary of State deems appropriate. Within 60 days after transmitting such reports to those committees, the Secretary of State shall make copies of them available to the public upon request and at a reasonable cost.

(3) The Inspector General shall report immediately to the Secretary of State whenever the Inspector General becomes aware of particularly serious or flagrant problems, abuses, or deficiencies relating to the administration of activities and operations of Foreign Service posts or bureaus or other operating units of the Department of State. The Secretary of State shall transmit any such report to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and to other appropriate committees within 7 days after receiving it, together with a report by the Secretary of State containing any comments the Secretary of State deems appropriate.

(4) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to authorize the public disclosure by any individual of any information which is—

(A) specifically prohibited from disclosure by any other provision of law; or

(B) specifically required by Executive order to be kept secret in the interest of national defense or the conduct of foreign affairs.

(e) Applicability of powers and responsibilities under other statutory provisions; assignment of Service employees to Inspector General; participation in formal interviews

(1) The Inspector General shall have the same authority in carrying out the provisions of this section as is granted under section 6 of the Inspector General Act of 1978 to each Inspector General of an establishment (as defined in section 11(2) of such Act) for carrying out the provisions of that Act, and the responsibilities of other officers of the Government to the Inspector General shall be the same as the responsibilities of the head of an agency or establishment under section 6(b) and (c) of such Act.

(2) At the request of the Inspector General, employees of the Department and members of the Service may be assigned as employees of the Inspector General. The individuals so assigned and individuals appointed pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be responsible solely to the Inspector General, and the Inspector General or his or her designee shall prepare the performance evaluation reports for such individuals.

(3) The Inspector General shall ensure that only officials from the Office of the Inspector General may participate in formal interviews or other formal meetings with the individual who is the subject of an investigation, other than an intelligence-related or sensitive undercover investigation, or except in those situations when the Inspector General has a reasonable basis to believe that such notice would cause tampering with witnesses, destroying evidence, or endangering the lives of individuals, unless that individual receives prior adequate notice regarding participation by officials of any other agency, including the Department of Justice, in such interviews or meetings.

(f) Reception and investigation of complaints or information; disclosure of identity of informer

(1) The Inspector General may receive and investigate complaints or information from a member of the Service or employee of the Department concerning the possible existence of an activity constituting a violation of laws or regulations, constituting mismanagement, gross waste of funds, or abuse of authority, or constituting a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety.

(2) The Inspector General shall not, after receipt of a complaint or information from a member of the Service or employee of the Department, disclose the identity of such individual without the consent of such individual, unless the Inspector General determines such disclosure is unavoidable during the course of the investigation.

(g) Review of activities and operations of chiefs of mission

Under the general supervision of the Secretary of State, the Inspector General may review activities and operations performed under the direction, coordination, and supervision of chiefs of mission for the purpose of ascertaining their consonance with the foreign policy of the United States and their consistency with the responsibilities of the Secretary of State and the chief of mission.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §209, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2080; Pub. L. 99–399, title IV, §413(a)(6), Aug. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 868; Pub. L. 99–529, title IV, §405, Oct. 24, 1986, 100 Stat. 3020; Pub. L. 105–277, div. G, subdiv. B, title XXII, §2208(a), (b), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–810; Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, §1000(a)(7) [div. A, title III, §339(a), (b)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A-443; Pub. L. 114–323, title II, §203, Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1916.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Inspector General Act of 1978, referred to in subsec. (e)(1), is Pub. L. 95–452, Oct. 12, 1978, 92 Stat. 1101, as amended, which is set out in Title 5, Appendix, Government Organization and Employees.

Amendments

2016—Subsec. (c)(6). Pub. L. 114–323 added par. (6).

1999—Subsec. (c)(5). Pub. L. 106–113, §1000(a)(7) [div. A, title III, §339(a)], added par. (5).

Subsec. (d)(2)(F). Pub. L. 106–113, §1000(a)(7) [div. A, title III, §339(b)], added subpar. (F).

1998—Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 105–277, §2208(a), added par. (4).

Subsec. (e)(3). Pub. L. 105–277, §2208(b), added par. (3).

1986—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 99–529 repealed §413(a)(6) of Pub. L. 99–399 and reenacted last sentence which had been struck out by Pub. L. 99–399.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1999 Amendment

Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, §1000(a)(7) [div. A, title III, §339(e)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A-444, provided that: "The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to cases opened on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 29, 1999]."

Construction of 1999 Amendment

Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, §1000(a)(7) [div. A, title III, §339(c)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A-444, provided that: "Nothing in the amendments made by this section [amending this section] may be construed to modify—

"(1) section 209(d)(4) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3929(d)(4));

"(2) section 7(b) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. app.);

"(3) the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a);

"(4) the provisions of section 2302(b)(8) of title 5 (relating to whistleblower protection);

"(5) rule 6(e) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure [18 U.S.C. App.] (relating to the protection of grand jury information); or

"(6) any statute or executive order pertaining to the protection of classified information."

Termination of Reporting Requirements

For termination, effective May 15, 2000, of provisions in subsec. (d)(2) of this section relating to the requirement that the Secretary of State transmit a copy of the annual report furnished by the Inspector General, together with any comments which the Secretary deems appropriate, to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and to other appropriate committees, see section 3003 of Pub. L. 104–66, as amended, set out as a note under section 1113 of Title 31, Money and Finance, and page 129 of House Document No. 103–7.

No Grievance or Right of Action

Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, §1000(a)(7) [div. A, title III, §339(d)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A-444, provided that: "A failure to comply with the amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall not give rise to any private right of action in any court or to an administrative complaint or grievance under any law."

§3929a. Abolishment of Inspector General of Department of State and Foreign Service

Notwithstanding section 3929 of this title, the Inspector General of the Department of State and the Foreign Service is hereby abolished.

(Pub. L. 99–93, title I, §150(b), Aug. 16, 1985, 99 Stat. 427; Pub. L. 99–399, title IV, §413(c), Aug. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 868.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1986 and 1987, and not as part of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 which comprises this chapter.

Another subsec. (c) of section 413 of Pub. L. 99–399 is classified to section 4861(c) of this title.

Amendments

1986—Pub. L. 99–399 substituted provision abolishing the Inspector General of the Department of State and the Foreign Service for provision limiting the authority of the Inspector General to such functions as necessary to carry out section 3929(g) of this title.

§3930. Board of Foreign Service

The President shall establish a Board of the Foreign Service to advise the Secretary of State on matters relating to the Service, including furtherance of the objectives of maximum compatibility among agencies authorized by law to utilize the Foreign Service personnel system and compatibility between the Foreign Service personnel system and the other personnel systems of the Government. The Board of the Foreign Service shall be chaired by an individual appointed by the President and shall include one or more representatives of the Department of State, the Broadcasting Board of Governors, the Agency for International Development, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Labor, the Office of Personnel Management, the Office of Management and Budget, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and such other agencies as the President may designate.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §210, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2082; Pub. L. 97–241, title III, §303(b), Aug. 24, 1982, 96 Stat. 291; Pub. L. 99–93, title I, §153, Aug. 16, 1985, 99 Stat. 428; Pub. L. 105–277, div. G, subdiv. A, title XIII, §1335(k)(2), title XIV, §1422(b)(4)(B), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–789, 2681-793.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1998—Pub. L. 105–277, §1422(b)(4)(B), substituted "Agency for International Development" for "United States International Development Cooperation Agency".

Pub. L. 105–277, §1335(k)(2), substituted "Broadcasting Board of Governors" for "United States Information Agency".

1985—Pub. L. 99–93 substituted "shall be chaired by an individual appointed by the President" for "shall be chaired by a career member of the Senior Foreign Service designated by the Secretary of State".

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Broadcasting Board of Governors renamed United States Agency for Global Media pursuant to section 6204(a)(22) of this title. The renaming was effectuated by notice to congressional appropriations committees dated May 24, 2018, and became effective Aug. 22, 2018.

"United States Information Agency" substituted in text for "International Communication Agency" pursuant to section 303(b) of Pub. L. 97–241, set out as a note under section 1461 of this title.

Effective Date of 1998 Amendment

Amendment by section 1335(k)(2) of Pub. L. 105–277 effective Oct. 1, 1999, see section 1301 of Pub. L. 105–277, set out as an Effective Date note under section 6531 of this title.

Amendment by section 1422(b)(4)(B) of Pub. L. 105–277 effective Apr. 1, 1999, see section 1401 of Pub. L. 105–277, set out as an Effective Date note under section 6561 of this title.

Executive Documents

Executive Order No. 11264

Ex. Ord. No. 11264, Dec. 31, 1965, 31 F.R. 67, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 11434, Nov. 8, 1968, 33 F.R. 16485; Ex. Ord. No. 11636, Dec. 17, 1971, 36 F.R. 24901; Ex. Ord. No. 12107, Dec. 28, 1978, 44 F.R. 1055; Ex. Ord. No. 12292, Feb. 23, 1981, 46 F.R. 13967, which provided for the establishment, functions, etc., of the Board of the Foreign Service and Board of Examiners for the Foreign Service, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 12363, May 21, 1982, 47 F.R. 22497. See sections 6 and 9 of Ex. Ord. No. 12293, as amended, set out as a note under section 3901 of this title.

Executive Order No. 11434

Ex. Ord. No. 11434, Nov. 8, 1968, 33 F.R. 16485, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 12107, Dec. 28, 1978, 44 F.R. 1055; Ex. Ord. No. 12292, Feb. 23, 1981, 46 F.R. 13967, which related to administration of foreign service personnel systems, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 12553, Feb. 25, 1986, 51 F.R. 7237.

§3931. Board of Examiners

(a) Establishment; membership; chairman

The President shall establish a Board of Examiners for the Foreign Service to develop, and supervise the administration of, examinations prescribed under section 3941(b) of this title to be given to candidates for appointment in the Service. The Board shall consist of 15 members appointed by the President (no fewer than 5 of whom shall be appointed from among individuals who are not Government employees and who shall be qualified for service on the Board by virtue of their knowledge, experience, or training in the fields of testing or equal employment opportunity). The Board shall include representatives of agencies utilizing the Foreign Service personnel system and representatives of other agencies which have responsibility for employment testing. The Board shall be chaired by a member of the Board, designated by the President, who is a member of the Service.

(b) Review of examinations; report to Secretary of State

The Board of Examiners shall periodically review the examinations prescribed under section 3941(b) of this title in order to determine—

(1) whether any such examination has an adverse impact on the hiring, promotion, or other employment opportunity of members of any race, sex, or ethnic group;

(2) methods of minimizing any such adverse impact;

(3) alternatives to any examinations which have such an adverse impact; and

(4) whether such examinations are valid in relation to job performance.

The Board of Examiners shall annually report its findings under this subsection to the Secretary of State and shall furnish to the Secretary of State its recommendations for improvements in the development, use, and administration of the examinations prescribed under section 3941(b) of this title.

(c) Vacancies

Any vacancy or vacancies on the Board shall not impair the right of the remaining members to exercise the full powers of the Board.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §211, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2083.)

Executive Documents

Establishment of Board of Examiners

For establishment of the Board of Examiners for the Foreign Service and appointment of its members, see section 6 of Ex. Ord. No. 12293, Feb. 23, 1981, 46 F.R. 13970, set out as note under section 3901 of this title.

SUBCHAPTER III—APPOINTMENTS

§3941. General provisions

(a) Citizenship requirement

Only citizens of the United States may be appointed to the Service, other than for service abroad as a consular agent or as a foreign national employee.

(b) Examinations

The Secretary shall prescribe, as appropriate, written, oral, physical, foreign language, and other examinations for appointment to the Service (other than as a chief of mission or ambassador at large).

(c) Veteran or disabled veteran

The fact that an applicant for appointment as a Foreign Service officer candidate is a veteran or disabled veteran shall be considered an affirmative factor in making such appointments. As used in this subsection, the term "veteran or disabled veteran" means an individual who is a preference eligible under subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of section 2108(3) of title 5.

(d) Career and noncareer appointments

(1) Members of the Service serving under career appointments are career members of the Service. Members of the Service serving under limited appointments are either career candidates or noncareer members of the Service.

(2) Chiefs of mission, ambassadors at large, and ministers serve at the pleasure of the President.

(3) An appointment as a Foreign Service officer is a career appointment. Foreign Service employees serving as career candidates or career members of the Service shall not represent to the income tax authorities of the District of Columbia or any other State or locality that they are exempt from income taxation on the basis of holding a Presidential appointment subject to Senate confirmation or that they are exempt on the basis of serving in an appointment whose tenure is at the pleasure of the President.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §301, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2083; Pub. L. 100–204, title I, §179(a), Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1362.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1987—Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 100–204 inserted sentence at end relating to exemption from income taxation.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1987 Amendment

Pub. L. 100–204, title I, §179(b), Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1363, provided that: "The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply with respect to tax years beginning after December 31, 1987."

Study of Foreign Service Examination

Pub. L. 101–246, title I, §153(g), Feb. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 44, required the Secretary of State to enter into a contract with a private organization for a comprehensive review and evaluation of the Foreign Service examination related to cultural, racial, ethnic, and sexual bias issues, and no later than 18 months after Feb. 16, 1990, submit a report to Congress containing the findings of the review and evaluation, together with the comments of the Secretary and measures which the Secretary has initiated to respond to any adverse findings of such review.

§3942. Appointments by the President

(a)(1) The President may, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoint an individual as a chief of mission, as an ambassador at large, as an ambassador, as a minister, as a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, or as a Foreign Service officer.

(2)(A) The President may, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, confer the personal rank of career ambassador upon a career member of the Senior Foreign Service in recognition of especially distinguished service over a sustained period.

(B)(i) Subject to the requirement of clause (ii), the President may confer the personal rank of ambassador or minister on an individual in connection with a special mission for the President of a temporary nature not exceeding six months in duration.

(ii) The President may confer such personal rank only if, prior to such conferral, he transmits to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a written report setting forth—

(I) the necessity for conferring such rank,

(II) the dates during which such rank will be held,

(III) the justification for not submitting the proposed conferral of personal rank to the Senate as a nomination for advice and consent to appointment, and

(IV) all relevant information concerning any potential conflict of interest which the proposed recipient of such personal rank may have with regard to the special mission.

Such report shall be transmitted not less than 30 days prior to conferral of the personal rank of ambassador or minister except in cases where the President certifies in his report that urgent circumstances require the immediate conferral of such rank.

(C) An individual upon whom a personal rank is conferred under subparagraph (A) or (B) shall not receive any additional compensation solely by virtue of such personal rank.

(3) Except as provided in paragraph (2)(B) of this subsection or in clause 3, section 2, article II of the Constitution (relating to recess appointments), an individual may not be designated as ambassador or minister, or be designated to serve in any position with the title of ambassador or minister, without the advice and consent of the Senate.

(b) If a member of the Service is appointed to any position in the executive branch by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, or by the President alone, the period of service in that position by the member shall be regarded as an assignment under subchapter V and the member shall not, by virtue of the acceptance of such assignment, lose his or her status as a member of the Service. A member of the Senior Foreign Service who accepts such an assignment may elect to continue to receive the salary of his or her salary class, to remain eligible for performance pay under subchapter IV, and to receive the leave to which such member is entitled under subchapter I of chapter 63, title 5, as a member of the Senior Foreign Service, in lieu of receiving the salary and leave (if any) of the position to which the member is appointed by the President.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §302, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2084; Pub. L. 100–204, title I, §177(b), Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1362; Pub. L. 102–138, title I, §§141, 142(a), Oct. 28, 1991, 105 Stat. 667.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1991—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 102–138, §141, inserted "as an ambassador," after "ambassador at large,".

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102–138, §142(a), substituted "may elect to continue to receive the salary of his or her salary class, to remain eligible for performance pay under subchapter IV, and to receive the leave to which such member is entitled under subchapter I of chapter 63, title 5, as a member of the Senior Foreign Service, in lieu of receiving the salary and leave (if any) of the position to which the member is appointed by the President" for "shall receive the salary and leave (if any) of the position to which the member is appointed by the President and shall not be eligible for performance pay under subchapter IV of this chapter".

1987—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 100–204 substituted "shall receive the salary and leave (if any) of the position to which the member is appointed by the President and shall not be eligible for performance pay under subchapter IV of this chapter." for "may elect to continue to receive the salary of his or her salary class, to remain eligible for performance pay under subchapter IV of this chapter, and to receive the leave to which such member is entitled under subchapter I of chapter 63 of title 5 as a member of the Senior Foreign Service, in lieu of receiving the salary and leave (if any) of the position to which the member is appointed by the President."

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1987 Amendment

Pub. L. 100–204, title I, §177(c), Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1362, provided that: "The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) [amending this section and section 3961 of this title] shall not apply to the salary of any individual serving under a Presidential appointment under section 302 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 [this section] immediately before the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 22, 1987] during the period such individual continues to serve in such position."

Executive Documents

Delegation of Functions

Functions of President under subsec. (a)(1) delegated to Secretary of State, see section 1 of Ex. Ord. No. 12293, Feb. 23, 1981, 46 F.R. 13969, set out as a note under section 3901 of this title.

Executive Order No. 10062

Ex. Ord. No. 10062, June 6, 1949, 14 F.R. 2695, as amended by act Aug. 10, 1949, ch. 412, §12(a), 63 Stat. 591; Ex. Ord. No. 10144, July 21, 1950, 15 F.R. 4705, eff. June 6, 1949, which established the position of United States High Commissioner for Germany, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 10608, May 5, 1955, 20 F.R. 3093, set out below.

Ex. Ord. No. 10608. United States Authority and Functions in Germany

Ex. Ord. No. 10608, May 5, 1955, 20 F.R. 3093, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 12608, Sept. 9, 1987, 52 F.R. 34617, provided:

By virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the statutes, including the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (94 Stat. 2071), as amended [this chapter], and as President of the United States and Commander in Chief of the armed forces of the United States, it is ordered as follows:

1. Executive Order No. 10062 of June 6, 1949, and Executive Order No. 10144 of July 21, 1950, amending that order, are hereby revoked, and the position of United States High Commissioner for Germany, established by that order, is hereby abolished.

2. The Chief of the United States Diplomatic Mission to the Federal Republic of Germany, hereinafter referred to as the Chief of Mission, shall have supreme authority, except as otherwise provided herein, with respect to all responsibilities, duties, and governmental functions of the United States in all Germany. The Chief of Mission shall exercise his authority under the supervision of the Secretary of State and subject to ultimate direction by the President.

3. The United States Military Commander having area responsibility in Germany, hereinafter referred to as the Commander, shall have authority with respect to all military responsibilities, duties, and functions of the United States in all Germany, including the command, security, and stationing of United States forces in Germany, the assertion and exercise of their rights and discharge of their obligations therein, and emergency measures which he may consider essential for their protection or the accomplishment of his mission. The Commander may delegate the authority conferred upon him. If action by the Commander or any representative of the Commander, pursuant to the authority herein conferred, affects the foreign policy of the United States or involves relations or negotiations with non-military German authorities, such action shall be taken only after consultation with and agreement by the Chief of Mission or pursuant to procedures previously agreed to between the Chief of Mission and the Commander or his representative. Either the Chief of Mission or the Commander may raise with the other any question which he believes requires such consultation. If agreement is not reached between them, any differences may be referred to the Department of State and the Department of Defense for resolution.

4. The Chief of Mission and the Commander or his designated representatives shall, to the fullest extent consistent with their respective missions, render assistance and support to each other in carrying out the agreements and policies of the United States.

5. With regard to the custody, care, and execution of sentences and disposition (including pardon, clemency, parole, or release) of war criminals confined or hereafter to be confined in Germany as a result of conviction by military tribunals (A) the Chief of Mission shall share the four-power responsibility in the case of persons convicted by the International Military Tribunal, (B) the Chief of Mission shall exercise responsibility in the case of persons convicted by military tribunals established by the United States Military Governor pursuant to Control Council Law No. 10, and (C) the Commander shall exercise responsibility in the case of persons convicted by other military tribunals established by United States Military Commanders in Germany and elsewhere. The Commanders shall, on request of the Chief of Mission, take necessary measures for carrying into execution any sentences adjudged against such persons in category (B) as to whom the Chief of Mission has responsibility and control. Transfer of custody of persons in categories (B) and (C) to the Federal Republic of Germany as provided in the Convention on the Settlement of Matters Arising Out of the War and Occupation shall terminate the responsibility of the Chief of Mission and the Commander with respect to such persons to the extent that the responsibility of the United States for them is thereupon terminated pursuant to the provisions of the said Convention.

6. If major differences arise over matters affecting the United States Forces in Germany, such differences may be referred to the Department of State and the Department of Defense for resolution.

7. This order shall become effective on the date that the Convention on Relations between the Three Powers and the Federal Republic of Germany and related Conventions, as amended, come into force.

Executive Order No. 11970

Ex. Ord. No. 11970, Feb. 5, 1977, 42 F.R. 7919, establishing the Presidential Advisory Board on Ambassadorial Appointments, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 12299, Mar. 17, 1981, 46 F.R. 17751.

Term of the Presidential Advisory Board on Ambassadorial Appointments extended until Dec. 31, 1980, see Ex. Ord. No. 12110, Dec. 28, 1978, 44 F.R. 1069, formerly set out as a note under section 14 of the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

§3943. Appointments by the Secretary

The Secretary may appoint the members of the Service (other than the members of the Service who are in the personnel categories specified in section 3942(a) of this title) in accordance with this chapter and such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §303, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2085.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original "this Act", meaning Pub. L. 96–465, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2071, as amended, known as the Foreign Service Act of 1980, which is classified principally to this chapter (§3901 et seq.). For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 3901 of this title and Tables.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Prohibition on Certain Employment at United States Diplomatic and Consular Missions in Communist Countries

Pub. L. 100–204, title I, §157, Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1354, provided that:

"(a) Prohibition.—After September 30, 1990, no national of a Communist country may be employed as a foreign national employee in any area of a United States diplomatic or consular facility in any Communist country where classified materials are maintained.

"(b) Definition.—As used in this section, the term 'Communist country' means a country listed in section 620(f) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 [22 U.S.C. 2370(f)].

"(c) Additional Funds for Hiring United States Citizens.—The Congress expresses its willingness to provide additional funds to the Department of State for the expenses of employing United States nationals to replace the individuals dismissed by reason of subsection (a).

"(d) Report and Request for Funds.—As a part of the Department of State's authorization request for fiscal years 1990 and 1991, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the heads of all relevant agencies, shall submit—

"(1) a report, which shall include—

"(A) a feasibility study of the implementation of this section; and

"(B) an analysis of the impact of the implementation of this section on the budget of the Department of State; and

"(2) a request for funds necessary for the implementation of this section pursuant to the findings and conclusions specified in the report under paragraph (1).

"(e) Waiver.—The President may waive this section—

"(1) if funds are not specifically authorized and appropriated to carry out this section; or

"(2) the President determines that it is in the national security interest of the United States to continue to employ foreign service nationals.

The President shall notify the appropriate committees of Congress each time he makes the waiver conferred on him by this section."

Soviet Employees at United States Diplomatic and Consular Missions in the Soviet Union

Pub. L. 99–93, title I, §136, Aug. 16, 1985, 99 Stat. 421, provided that:

"(a) Limitation.—To the maximum extent practicable, citizens of the Soviet Union shall not be employed as foreign national employees at United States diplomatic or consular missions in the Soviet Union after September 30, 1986.

"(b) Report.—Should the President determine that the implementation of subsection (a) poses undue practical or administrative difficulties, he is requested to submit a report to the Congress describing the number and type of Soviet foreign national employees he wishes to retain at or in proximity to United States diplomatic and consular posts in the Soviet Union, the anticipated duration of their continued employment, the reasons for their continued employment, and the risks associated with the retention of these employees."

Executive Documents

Employment of Soviet Nationals at U.S. Diplomatic and Consular Missions in Soviet Union

Determination of President of the United States, No. 92–4, Oct. 24, 1991, 56 F.R. 56567, provided:

Memorandum for the Secretary of State

By the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, including section 301 of title 3 of the United States Code and section 136 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1986 and 1987 (Public Law 99–93) ("the Act") [set out as a note above], I hereby determine that implementation of section 136(a) of the Act poses undue practical and administrative difficulties. Consistent with this determination, you are authorized to employ Soviet nationals in nonsensitive areas of the New Embassy Compound in Moscow under strict monitoring by cleared Americans. Further, I delegate to you the responsibility vested in me by section 136(b) of the Act to report to the Congress on circumstances relevant to this determination. Such responsibility may be redelegated within the Department of State.

You are authorized and directed to report this determination to the Congress and to publish it in the Federal Register.

George Bush.      

§3944. Chiefs of Mission

(a) Qualifications; preference for career members; political contributions as factor in appointment; demonstrated competency report

(1) An individual appointed or assigned to be a chief of mission should possess clearly demonstrated competence to perform the duties of a chief of mission, including, to the maximum extent practicable, a useful knowledge of the principal language or dialect of the country in which the individual is to serve, and knowledge and understanding of the history, the culture, the economic and political institutions, and the interests of that country and its people.

(2) Given the qualifications specified in paragraph (1), positions as chief of mission should normally be accorded to career members of the Service, though circumstances will warrant appointments from time to time of qualified individuals who are not career members of the Service.

(3) Contributions to political campaigns should not be a factor in the appointment of an individual as a chief of mission.

(4) The President shall provide the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, with each nomination for an appointment as a chief of mission, a report on the demonstrated competence of that nominee to perform the duties of the position in which he or she is to serve.

(b) Furnishing of information by Secretary; political campaign contributions report

(1) In order to assist the President in selecting qualified candidates for appointment or assignment as chiefs of mission, the Secretary of State shall from time to time furnish the President with the names of career members of the Service who are qualified to serve as chiefs of mission, together with pertinent information about such members.

(2) Each individual nominated by the President to be a chief of mission, ambassador at large, or minister shall, at the time of nomination, file with the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a report of contributions made by such individual and by members of his or her immediate family during the period beginning on the first day of the fourth calendar year preceding the calendar year of the nomination and ending on the date of the nomination. The report shall be verified by the oath of the nominee, taken before any individual authorized to administer oaths. The chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate shall have each such report printed in the Congressional Record. As used in this paragraph, the term "contribution" has the same meaning given such term by section 30101(8) of title 52, and the term "immediate family" means the spouse of the nominee, and any child, parent, grandparent, brother, or sister of the nominee and the spouses of any of them.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §304, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2085; Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, §1000(a)(7) [div. A, title II, §208(b)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A-422.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1999—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 106–113 struck out subsec. (c) which read as follows: "Within 6 months after assuming the position, the chief of mission to a foreign country shall submit, to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, a report describing his or her own foreign language competence and the foreign language competence of the mission staff in the principal language or other dialect of that country."

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Public Availability of Reports on Nominees To Be Chiefs of Mission

Pub. L. 114–323, title VII, §712, Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1945, provided that: "Not later than 7 days after submitting the report required under section 304(a)(4) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3944(a)(4)) to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, the President shall make the report available to the public, including by posting the report on the website of the Department [of State] in a conspicuous manner and location."

§3945. Senior Foreign Service

(a) Salary class

Appointment to the Senior Foreign Service shall be to a salary class established under section 3962 of this title, and not to a position.

(b) Limited appointment

An individual may not be given a limited appointment in the Senior Foreign Service if that appointment would cause the number of members of the Senior Foreign Service serving under limited appointments to exceed 5 percent of the total number of members of the Senior Foreign Service, except that (1) members of the Senior Foreign Service assigned to the Peace Corps shall be excluded in the calculation and application of this limitation, and (2) members of the Senior Foreign Service serving under limited appointments with reemployment rights under section 3950 of this title as career appointees in the Senior Executive Service shall be considered to be career members of the Senior Foreign Service for purposes of this subsection.

(c) Appointments by Secretary of Commerce

(1) Appointments to the Senior Foreign Service by the Secretary of Commerce shall be excluded in the calculation and application of the limitation in subsection (b).

(2) Except as provided in paragraph (3), no more than one individual (other than an individual with reemployment rights under section 3950 of this title as a career appointee in the Senior Executive Service) may serve under a limited appointment in the Senior Foreign Service in the Department of Commerce at any time.

(3) The Secretary of Commerce may appoint an individual to a limited appointment in the Senior Foreign Service for a specific position abroad if—

(A) no career member of the Service who has the necessary qualifications is available to serve in the position; and

(B) the individual appointed has unique qualifications for the specific position.

(d) Recertification process

The Secretary shall by regulation establish a recertification process for members of the Senior Foreign Service that is equivalent to the recertification process for the Senior Executive Service under section 3393a of title 5.¹

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §305, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2086; Pub. L. 99–93, title I, §119(a), Aug. 16, 1985, 99 Stat. 412; Pub. L. 101–194, title V, §506(c)(1), Nov. 30, 1989, 103 Stat. 1759; Pub. L. 101–280, §6(d)(3), May 4, 1990, 104 Stat. 160.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 3393a of title 5, referred to in subsec. (d), was repealed by Pub. L. 107–296, title XIII, §1321(a)(1)(B), Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2296.

Amendments

1990—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 101–280 made technical correction to Pub. L. 101–194. See 1989 Amendment note below.

1989—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 101–194, as amended by Pub. L. 101–280, added subsec. (d).

1985—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 99–93 added subsec. (c).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1989 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 101–194 effective Jan. 1, 1991, see section 506(d) of Pub. L. 101–194, set out as a note under section 3151 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Effective Date of 1985 Amendment

Pub. L. 99–93, title I, §119(c), Aug. 16, 1985, 99 Stat. 412, provided that: "The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) [amending this section and provisions set out as a note under section 3901 of this title] shall take effect on October 1, 1985."

Effective Date

Section effective Feb. 15, 1981, with an exception that appointments to the Senior Foreign Service by the Secretary of Commerce shall be excluded in the calculation and limitation in subsec. (b) of this section until Oct. 1, 1985, which was repealed by section 119(b) of Pub. L. 99–93, see section 2403 of Pub. L. 96–465, set out as a note under section 3901 of this title.

Placement of Senior Foreign Service Personnel

Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, §1000(a)(7) [div. A, title III, §324], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A-437, required the Director General of the Foreign Service to submit a report on the first day of each fiscal quarter to the appropriate congressional committees containing the number of members of the Senior Foreign Service, the number of vacant positions designated for such members, and the number of those members not assigned to positions, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 107–228, div. A, title VI, §671(4), Sept. 30, 2002, 116 Stat. 1407.

¹ See References in Text note below.

§3946. Career appointments

(a) Trial period under limited appointment

Before receiving a career appointment in the Service, an individual shall first serve under a limited appointment as a career candidate for a trial period of service prescribed by the Secretary. During such trial period of service, the Secretary shall decide whether—

(1) to offer a career appointment to the candidate under section 3943 of this title, or

(2) to recommend to the President that the candidate be given a career appointment under section 3942 of this title.

(b) Decisions by Secretary

Decisions by the Secretary under subsection (a) shall be based upon the recommendations of boards, established by the Secretary and composed entirely or primarily of career members of the Service, which shall evaluate the fitness and aptitude of career candidates for the work of the Service.

(c) Foreign Service Grievance Board decisions

Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of the Secretary or the Foreign Service Grievance Board under section 4137 of this title.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §306, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2086; Pub. L. 100–204, title I, §181(c), Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1363.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1987—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 100–204 added subsec. (c).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1987 Amendment

Pub. L. 100–204, title I, §181(e), Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1364, provided that: "The amendments made by this section [amending this section and sections 4010 and 4137 of this title] shall not apply with respect to any grievance in which the Board has issued a final decision pursuant to section 1107 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4137) before the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 22, 1987]."

§3947. Entry levels for Foreign Service officer candidates

A career candidate for appointment as a Foreign Service officer may not be initially assigned under section 3964 of this title to a salary class higher than class 4 in the Foreign Service Schedule unless—

(1) the Secretary determines in an individual case that assignment to a higher salary class is warranted because of the qualifications (including foreign language competence) and experience of the candidate and the needs of the Service; or

(2) at the time such initial assignment is made, the candidate is serving under a career appointment in the Service and is receiving a salary at a rate equal to or higher than the minimum rate payable for class 4 in the Foreign Service Schedule.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §307, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2086.)

§3948. Recall and reappointment of career members

(a) Retired career members

Whenever the Secretary determines that the needs of the Service so require, the Secretary may recall any retired career member of the Service for active duty in the same personnel category as that member was serving at the time of retirement. A retired career member may be recalled under this section to any appropriate salary class or rate, except that a retired career member of the Senior Foreign Service may not be recalled to a salary class higher than the one in which the member was serving at the time of retirement unless appointed to such higher class by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.

(b) Former career members

Former career members of the Service may be reappointed under section 3942(a)(1) or 3943 of this title, without regard to section 3946 of this title, in a salary class which is appropriate in light of the qualifications and experience of the individual being reappointed.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §308, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2086.)

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

USAID Overseas Program

Pub. L. 116–94, div. G, title VII, §7064(a)–(d), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 2928, 2929, as amended by Pub. L. 116–136, div. B, title XI, §21004, Mar. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 591, provided that:

"(a) Authority.—Up to $110,000,000 of the funds made available in title III of this Act [title III of div. G of Pub. L. 116–94, 133 Stat. 2826] pursuant to or to carry out the provisions of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 [22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.], including funds appropriated under the heading 'Assistance for Europe, Eurasia and Central Asia', may be used by the United States Agency for International Development to hire and employ individuals in the United States and overseas on a limited appointment basis pursuant to the authority of sections 308 and 309 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3948 and 3949): Provided, That no amounts may be used that were designated by the Congress for Overseas Contingency Operations/Global War on Terrorism pursuant to the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget or the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 [2 U.S.C. 900 et seq.].

"(b) Restriction.—The authority to hire individuals contained in subsection (a) shall expire on September 30, 2021.

"(c) Program Account Charged.—The account charged for the cost of an individual hired and employed under the authority of this section shall be the account to which the responsibilities of such individual primarily relate: Provided, That funds made available to carry out this section may be transferred to, and merged with, funds appropriated by this Act in title II [title II of div. G of Pub. L. 116–94, 133 Stat. 2825] under the heading 'Operating Expenses'.

"(d) Foreign Service Limited Extensions.—Individuals hired and employed by USAID [United States Agency for International Development], with funds made available in this Act [div. G of Pub. L. 116–94, 133 Stat. 2816] or prior Acts making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs, pursuant to the authority of section 309 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3949), may be extended for a period of up to 4 years notwithstanding the limitation set forth in such section."

Similar provisions were contained in the following prior appropriation acts:

Pub. L. 116–6, div. F, title VII, §7057(a)–(e), Feb. 15, 2019, 133 Stat. 371.

Pub. L. 115–141, div. K, title VII, §7057(a)–(e), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 941.

Pub. L. 115–31, div. J, title VII, §7057(a)–(e), May 5, 2017, 131 Stat. 695.

Pub. L. 114–113, div. K, title VII, §7057(a)–(e), Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 2803, 2804.

Pub. L. 113–235, div. J, title VII, §7057(a)–(e), Dec. 16, 2014, 128 Stat. 2664, 2665.

Pub. L. 113–76, div. K, title VII, §7057(a)–(e), Jan. 17, 2014, 128 Stat. 549.

Pub. L. 112–74, div. I, title VII, §7057(a)–(e), Dec. 23, 2011, 125 Stat. 1244.

Pub. L. 111–117, div. F, title VII, §7059(a)–(g), Dec. 16, 2009, 123 Stat. 3380, 3381.

Pub. L. 111–8, div. H, title VII, §7059(a)–(g), Mar. 11, 2009, 123 Stat. 896.

Pub. L. 110–161, div. J, title VI, §676, Dec. 26, 2007, 121 Stat. 2357.

Pub. L. 109–102, title V, §577, Nov. 14, 2005, 119 Stat. 2231.

Pub. L. 108–447, div. D, title V, §588, Dec. 8, 2004, 118 Stat. 3034.

Pub. L. 108–199, div. D, title V, §525, Jan. 23, 2004, 118 Stat. 176, provided that: "Funds appropriated by this and subsequent appropriations Acts to carry out the provisions of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 [22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.], including funds appropriated under the heading 'Assistance for Eastern Europe and the Baltic States', may be made available to employ individuals overseas on a limited appointment basis pursuant to the authority of sections 308 and 309 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 [22 U.S.C. 3948, 3949]: Provided, That in fiscal years 2004, 2005, and 2006 the authority of this section may be used to hire not more than 85 individuals in each such year."

§3949. Limited appointments

(a) A limited appointment in the Service, including an appointment of an individual who is an employee of an agency, may not exceed 5 years in duration and, except as provided in subsections (b) and (c), may not be extended or renewed. A limited appointment in the Service which is limited by its terms to a period of one year or less is a temporary appointment.

(b) A limited appointment may be extended for continued service—

(1) as a consular agent;

(2) in accordance with section 3951(a) of this title;

(3) as a career candidate, if—

(A) continued service is determined appropriate to remedy a matter that would be cognizable as a grievance under subchapter XI; or

(B) the individual is serving in the uniformed services (as defined in section 4303 of title 38) and the limited appointment expires in the course of such service;

(4) as a career employee in another Federal personnel system serving in a Foreign Service position on detail from another agency;

(5) as a foreign national employee;

(6) in exceptional circumstances if the Secretary determines the needs of the Service require the extension of—

(A) a limited noncareer appointment for a period not to exceed 1 year; or

(B) a limited appointment of a career candidate for the minimum time needed to resolve a grievance, claim, investigation, or complaint not otherwise provided for in this section.

(c)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) noncareer employees who have served for 5 consecutive years under a limited appointment under this section may be reappointed to a subsequent noncareer limited appointment if there is at least a 1-year break in service before such new appointment.

(2) The Secretary may waive the 1-year break requirement under paragraph (1) in cases of special need.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §309, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2086; Pub. L. 100–204, title I, §176, Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1361; Pub. L. 103–236, title I, §180(a)(1), Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 415; Pub. L. 103–415, §1(hh), Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4303; Pub. L. 114–323, title IV, §409, Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1930.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2016—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 114–323, §409(1), substituted "subsections (b) and (c)" for "subsection (b)".

Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 114–323, §409(2)(A), substituted "if—" for "if", inserted subpar. (A) designation before "continued service" and "or" after semicolon at end, and added subpar. (B).

Subsec. (b)(6). Pub. L. 114–323, §409(2)(B)–(D), added par. (6).

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 114–323, §409(3), added subsec. (c).

1994—Subsec. (b)(5). Pub. L. 103–236, as amended by Pub. L. 103–415, added par. (5).

1987—Pub. L. 100–204 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), substituted "subsection (b)" for "section 3951(a) of this title", and added subsec. (b).

§3950. Reemployment rights following limited appointment

Any employee of an agency who accepts a limited appointment in the Service with the consent of the head of the agency in which the employee is employed shall be entitled, upon the termination of such limited appointment, to be reemployed in accordance with section 3597 of title 5.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §310, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2087.)

Executive Documents

Entitlement to Benefits for Services Performed Outside United States; Service Exceeding Thirty Months

Persons appointed, employed, or assigned after May 19, 1959, under former section 1787(c) of this title or section 2385(d) of this title for the purpose of performing functions under the Mutual Security Act of 1954 (see Short Title note set out under section 1754 of this title) and the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (section 2151 et seq. of this title) outside the United States shall not, unless otherwise agreed by the agency in which such benefits may be exercised, be entitled to the benefits provided for by this section in cases in which their service under the appointment, employment, or assignment exceeds thirty months. See Ex. Ord. No. 12163, §1–602(b), Sept. 29, 1979, 44 F.R. 56677, as amended, set out as a note under section 2381 of this title.

§3951. United States citizens hired abroad

(a) Appointment of family members

The Secretary, under section 3943 of this title, may appoint United States citizens, who are family members of government employees assigned abroad or are hired for service at their post of residence, for employment in positions customarily filled by Foreign Service officers, Foreign Service personnel, and foreign national employees.

(b) Family nexus as affirmative hiring factor

The fact that an applicant for employment in a position referred to in subsection (a) is a family member of a Government employee assigned abroad shall be considered an affirmative factor in employing such person.

(c) Compensation of family and non-family member employees

(1) Non-family members employed under this section for service at their post of residence shall be paid in accordance with local compensation plans established under section 3968 of this title.

(2) Family members employed under this section shall be paid in accordance with the Foreign Service Schedule or the salary rates established under section 3967 of this title.

(3) In exceptional circumstances, non-family members may be paid in accordance with the Foreign Service Schedule or the salary rates established under section 3967 of this title, if the Secretary determines that the national interest would be served by such payments.

(d) Non-family member employees ineligible for certain benefits

Nonfamily member United States citizens employed under this section shall not be eligible by reason of such employment for benefits under subchapter VIII of this chapter, or under chapters ¹ 83 or 84 of title 5.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §311, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2087; Pub. L. 103–236, title I, §180(a)(2), Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 415; Pub. L. 103–415, §1(h)(1), Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4300.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1994—Pub. L. 103–415 substituted "United States citizens hired abroad" for "Employment of family members of Government employees" as section catchline and inserted "by reason of such employment" after "eligible" in subsec. (d).

Pub. L. 103–236 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section read as follows:

"(a) The Secretary, when employing individuals abroad in positions to which career members of the Service are not customarily assigned (including, when continuity over a long term is not a significant consideration, vacant positions normally filled by foreign national employees), shall give equal consideration to employing available qualified family members of members of the Service or of other Government employees assigned abroad. Family members so employed shall serve under renewable limited appointments in the Service and may be paid either in accordance with the Foreign Service Schedule or a local compensation plan established under section 3968 of this title.

"(b) Employment of family members in accordance with this section may not be used to avoid fulfilling the need for full-time career positions."

¹ So in original. Probably should be "chapter".

§3952. Diplomatic and consular missions

(a) Recommendations by Secretary of State; appointment by President; vice consul; performance of official functions under commission

The Secretary of State may recommend to the President that a member of the Service who is a citizen of the United States be commissioned as a diplomatic or consular officer or both. The President may, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, commission such member of the Service as a diplomatic or consular officer or both. The Secretary of State may commission as a vice consul a member of the Service who is a citizen of the United States. All official functions performed by a diplomatic or consular officer, including a vice consul, shall be performed under such a commission.

(b) Function of commissioned Service members

Members of the Service commissioned under this section may, in accordance with their commissions, perform any function which any category of diplomatic officer (other than a chief of mission) or consular officer is authorized by law to perform.

(c) Limits of consular districts

The Secretary of State shall define the limits of consular districts.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §312, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2087.)

SUBCHAPTER IV—COMPENSATION

§3961. Salaries of chiefs of mission

(a) Except as provided in section 3942(b) of this title, each chief of mission shall receive a salary, as determined by the President, at one of the annual rates payable for levels II through V of the Executive Schedule under sections 5313 through 5316 of title 5, except that the total compensation, exclusive of danger pay, for any chief of mission shall be subject to the limitation on certain payments under section 5307 of title 5 or the limitation under section 3962(a)(3) of this title, whichever is higher.

(b) The salary of a chief of mission shall commence upon the effective date of appointment to that position. The official services of a chief of mission are not terminated by the appointment of a successor, but shall continue for such additional period, not to exceed 50 days after relinquishment of charge of the mission, as the Secretary of State may determine. During that period, the Secretary of State may require the chief of mission to perform such functions as the Secretary of State deems necessary in the interest of the Government.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §401, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2087; Pub. L. 100–204, title I, §177(a), Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1362; Pub. L. 102–138, title I, §142(b), Oct. 28, 1991, 105 Stat. 668; Pub. L. 108–447, div. B, title IV, §412(c), Dec. 8, 2004, 118 Stat. 2905.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2004—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 108–447, which directed the substitution of "shall be subject to the limitation on certain payments under section 5307 of title 5 or the limitation under section 3962(a)(3) of this title, whichever is higher" for "shall not exceed the annual rate of pay payable for level I of such Executive Schedule", was executed by making the substitution for "shall not exceed the annual rate payable for level I of such Executive Schedule" to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

1991—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–138 substituted "Except as provided in section 3942(b) of this title, each" for "Each" and "level I of such" for "level II of such".

1987—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–204 substituted "Each chief" for "Except as provided in section 3942(b) of this title, each chief", and inserted before period at end ", except that the total compensation, exclusive of danger pay, for any chief of mission shall not exceed the annual rate payable for level II of such Executive Schedule".

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1987 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 100–204 not applicable to salary of any individual serving under Presidential appointment under section 3942 of this title immediately before Dec. 22, 1987, during the period such individual continues to serve in such position, see section 177(c) of Pub. L. 100–204, set out as a note under section 3942 of this title.

§3962. Salaries of Senior Foreign Service members

(a) Prescription by President; basic salary rates; adjustments; determinations by Secretary

(1) The President shall prescribe salary classes for the Senior Foreign Service and shall prescribe an appropriate title for each class. The President shall also prescribe ranges of basic salary rates for each class. Except as provided in paragraph (3), basic salary rates for the Senior Foreign Service may not exceed the maximum rate or be less than the minimum rate of basic pay payable for the Senior Executive Service under section 5382 of title 5.

(2) The Secretary shall determine which basic salary rate within the ranges prescribed by the President under paragraph (1) shall be paid to each member of the Senior Foreign Service based on individual performance, contribution to the mission of the Department, or both, as determined under a rigorous performance management system. Except as provided in regulations prescribed by the Secretary and, to the extent possible, consistent with regulations governing the Senior Executive Service, the Secretary may adjust the basic salary rate of a member of the Senior Foreign Service not more than once during any 12-month period.

(3) Upon a determination by the Secretary that the Senior Foreign Service performance appraisal system, as designed and applied, makes meaningful distinctions based on relative performance—

(A) the maximum rate of basic pay payable for the Senior Foreign Service shall be level II of the Executive Schedule; and

(B) the applicable aggregate pay cap shall be equivalent to the aggregate pay cap set forth in section 5307(d)(1) of title 5 for members of the Senior Executive Service.

(b) Career appointees in Senior Executive Service accepting limited appointment in Senior Foreign Service; adjustment

(1) An individual who is a career appointee in the Senior Executive Service receiving basic pay at one of the rates payable under section 5382 of title 5 and who accepts a limited appointment in the Senior Foreign Service in a salary class for which the basic salary rate is less than such basic rate of pay, shall be paid a salary at his or her former basic rate of pay (with adjustments as provided in paragraph (2)) until the salary for his or her salary class in the Senior Foreign Service equals or exceeds the salary payable to such individual under this subsection.

(2) The salary paid to an individual under this subsection shall be adjusted by 50 percent of each adjustment, which takes effect after the appointment of such individual to the Senior Foreign Service, in the basic rate of pay at which that individual was paid under section 5382 of title 5 immediately prior to such appointment.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §402, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2087; Pub. L. 97–241, title I, §124, Aug. 24, 1982, 96 Stat. 281; Pub. L. 108–447, div. B, title IV, §412(a), Dec. 8, 2004, 118 Stat. 2905.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Level II of the Executive Schedule, referred to in subsec. (a)(3)(A), is set out in section 5313 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Amendments

2004—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 108–447, §412(a)(1), substituted "The President shall also prescribe ranges of basic salary rates for each class. Except as provided in paragraph (3), basic salary rates for the Senior Foreign Service may not exceed the maximum rate or be less than the minimum rate of basic pay payable for the Senior Executive Service under section 5382 of title 5." for "The President shall also prescribe one or more basic salary rates for each class. Basic salary rates for the Senior Foreign Service may not exceed the maximum rate or be less than the minimum rate of basic pay payable for the Senior Executive Service under section 5382 of title 5, and shall be adjusted at the same time and in the same manner as rates of basic pay are adjusted for the Senior Executive Service."

Subsec. (a)(2), (3). Pub. L. 108–447, §412(a)(2), added pars. (2) and (3) and struck out former par. (2) which read as follows: "The Secretary shall determine which of the basic salary rates prescribed by the President under paragraph (1) for any salary class shall be paid to each member of the Senior Foreign Service who is appointed to that class. The Secretary may adjust the basic salary rate of a member of the Senior Foreign Service not more than once during any 12-month period."

1982—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 97–241 designated existing provisions as par. (1), inserted provision authorizing the President to prescribe one or more basic salary rates for each class, and added par. (2).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective Feb. 15, 1981, except that subsec. (a), for purposes of implementing section 4151 of this title, is effective Oct. 17, 1980, see section 2403(a) and (d)(2) of Pub. L. 96–465, set out as an Effective Date note under section 3901 of this title.

Executive Documents

Establishment of Salary Classes With Titles for Senior Foreign Service

For establishment of salary classes with titles for the Senior Foreign Service, at basic rates of pay equivalent to that established from time to time for the Senior Executive Service under section 5382 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, see section 4 of Ex. Ord. No. 12293, Feb. 23, 1981, 46 F.R. 13969, set out as a note under section 3901 of this title.

§3963. Foreign Service Schedule

The President shall establish a Foreign Service Schedule which shall consist of 9 salary classes and which shall apply to members of the Service who are citizens of the United States and for whom salary rates are not otherwise provided for by this subchapter. The maximum salary rate for the highest class established under this section, which shall be designated class 1, may not exceed the maximum rate of basic pay prescribed for GS–15 of the General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5. Salary rates established under this section shall be adjusted in accordance with section 5303 of title 5.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §403, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2088; Pub. L. 101–509, title V, §529 [title I, §101(b)(1)], Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1427, 1439.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1990—Pub. L. 101–509 substituted "section 5303" for "subchapter I of chapter 53".

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1990 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 101–509 effective on such date as the President shall determine, but not earlier than 90 days, and not later than 180 days, after Nov. 5, 1990, see section 529 [title I, §305] of Pub. L. 101–509, set out as a note under section 5301 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Effective Date

Section effective Feb. 15, 1981, except that for purposes of implementing section 4151 of this title it is effective Oct. 17, 1980, see section 2403(a) and (d)(2) of Pub. L. 96–465, set out as an Effective Date note under section 3901 of this title.

Executive Documents

Executive Order No. 12249

Ex. Ord. No. 12249, Oct. 25, 1980, 45 F.R. 71347, which provided for a Foreign Service Schedule, was superseded by Ex. Ord. No. 12330, Oct. 15, 1981, 46 F.R. 50921, formerly set out as a note under section 5332 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Adjustment of Foreign Service Schedule

For adjustment of Foreign Service Schedule pay rates under this section, see the executive order detailing the adjustment of certain rates of pay set out as a note under section 5332 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

§3964. Assignments to salary class

(a) The Secretary shall assign all Foreign Service officers and Foreign Service personnel (other than Foreign Service personnel who are paid in accordance with section 3967 of this title or section 3968 of this title) to appropriate salary classes in the Foreign Service Schedule.

(b)(1) The salary class to which a member of the Service is assigned under this section shall not be affected by the assignment of the member to a position classified under subchapter V.

(2) Except as authorized by subchapter I of chapter 35 of title 5, changes in the salary class of a member of the Senior Foreign Service or a member of the Service assigned to a salary class in the Foreign Service Schedule shall be made only in accordance with subchapter VI. The Secretary shall prescribe regulations (which shall be consistent with the relevant provisions of subchapter VI of chapter 53 of title 5 and with the regulations prescribed to carry out such provisions) providing for retention of pay by members of the Service in cases in which reduction-in-force procedures are applied.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §404, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2088; Pub. L. 103–236, title I, §180(a)(3), Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 415.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1994—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–236 struck out "who are family members of Government employees paid in accordance with a local compensation plan established under" after "section 3967 of this title or".

§3965. Performance pay

(a) Eligibility; additional lump sum payment; excessive compensation not precluding award

Subject to subsection (e), members of the Senior Foreign Service who are serving—

(1) under career or career candidate appointments, or

(2) under limited appointments with reemployment rights under section 3950 of this title as career appointees in the Senior Executive Service,

shall be eligible to compete for performance pay in accordance with this section. Performance pay shall be paid in a lump sum and shall be in addition to the basic salary prescribed under section 3962 of this title and any other award. The fact that a member of the Senior Foreign Service competing for performance pay would, as a result of the payment of such performance pay, receive compensation exceeding the compensation of any other member of the Service shall not preclude the award or its payment.

(b) Criteria; limitations

Awards of performance pay shall take into account the criteria established by the Office of Personnel Management for performance awards under section 5384 of title 5 and rank awards under section 4507 of title 5. Awards of performance pay under this section shall be subject to the following limitations:

(1) Not more than 33 percent of the members of the Senior Foreign Service may receive performance pay in any fiscal year.

(2) Except as provided in paragraph (3), performance pay for a member of the Senior Foreign Service may not exceed 20 percent of the annual rate of basic salary for that member.

(3) Not more than 6 percent of the members of the Senior Foreign Service may receive performance pay in any fiscal year in an amount which exceeds the percentage limitation specified in paragraph (2). Payments under this paragraph to a member of the Senior Foreign Service may not exceed, in any fiscal year, the percentage of basic pay established under section 4507(e)(1) of title 5 for a Meritorious Executive, except that payments of the percentage of the basic pay established under section 4507(e)(2) of such title for Distinguished Executives may be made in any fiscal year to up to 1 percent of the members of the Senior Foreign Service.

(4) Any award under this section shall be subject to the limitation on certain payments under section 5307 of title 5, or the limitation under section 3962(a)(3) of this title, whichever is higher.

(5) The Secretary of State shall prescribe regulations, consistent with section 5582 of title 5, under which payment under this section shall be made in the case of any individual whose death precludes payment under paragraph (4) of this subsection.

(c) Determination of amount by Secretary; distribution on basis of selection board recommendations

The Secretary shall determine the amount of performance pay available under subsection (b)(2) each year for distribution among the members of the Senior Foreign Service and shall distribute performance pay to particular individuals on the basis of recommendations by selection boards established under section 4002 of this title.

(d) Recommendations for meritorious or distinguished service awards

The President may grant awards of performance pay under subsection (b)(3) on the basis of annual recommendations by the Secretary of State of members of the Senior Foreign Service who are nominated by their agencies as having performed especially meritorious or distinguished service. Such service in the promotion of internationally recognized human rights, including the right to freedom of religion, shall serve as a basis for granting awards under this section. Recommendations by the Secretary of State under this subsection shall be made on the basis of recommendations by special interagency selection boards established by the Secretary of State for the purpose of reviewing and evaluating the nominations of agencies.

(e) Recognition in lieu of award

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of State may provide for recognition of the meritorious or distinguished service of any member of the Foreign Service described in subsection (a) (including any member of the Senior Foreign Service) by means other than an award of performance pay in lieu of making such an award under this section.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §405, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2088; Pub. L. 100–204, title I, §175(b), Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1361; Pub. L. 103–236, title I, §173(d), Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 412; Pub. L. 105–277, div. G, subdiv. B, title XXIII, §2311(a), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–826; Pub. L. 105–292, title V, §504(a), Oct. 27, 1998, 112 Stat. 2811; Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, §1000(a)(7) [div. A, title III, §323], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A-437; Pub. L. 107–228, div. A, title III, §312(a), Sept. 30, 2002, 116 Stat. 1378; Pub. L. 108–447, div. B, title IV, §412(b), Dec. 8, 2004, 118 Stat. 2905.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2004—Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 108–447 inserted ", or the limitation under section 3962(a)(3) of this title, whichever is higher" before period at end.

2002—Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 107–228 inserted second sentence and struck out former second sentence which read as follows: "Payments under this paragraph to a member of the Senior Foreign Service may not exceed $10,000 in any fiscal year, except that payments of up to $20,000 in any fiscal year may be made under this paragraph to up to 1 percent of the members of the Senior Foreign Service."

1999—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 106–113 substituted "33" for "50".

1998—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105–277, §2311(a)(1), substituted "Subject to subsection (e), members" for "Members" in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 105–292 inserted "Such service in the promotion of internationally recognized human rights, including the right to freedom of religion, shall serve as a basis for granting awards under this section." after first sentence.

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 105–277, §2311(a)(2), added subsec. (e).

1994—Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 103–236 amended par. (4) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (4) read as follows: "The total amount of basic salary plus performance pay received in any fiscal year by any member of the Senior Foreign Service may not exceed the salary payable for level I of the Executive Schedule under section 5312 of title 5 as in effect at the end of that fiscal year. Any amount which is not paid to a member of the Senior Foreign Service during a fiscal year because of this limitation shall be paid to that individual in a lump sum at the beginning of the following fiscal year. Any amount paid under this authority during a fiscal year shall be taken into account for purposes of applying the limitation in the first sentence of this subparagraph with respect to such fiscal year."

1987—Subsec. (b)(4), (5). Pub. L. 100–204 inserted at end of par. (4) "Any amount which is not paid to a member of the Senior Foreign Service during a fiscal year because of this limitation shall be paid to that individual in a lump sum at the beginning of the following fiscal year. Any amount paid under this authority during a fiscal year shall be taken into account for purposes of applying the limitation in the first sentence of this subparagraph with respect to such fiscal year." and added par. (5).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2002 Amendment

Pub. L. 107–228, div. A, title III, §312(b), Sept. 30, 2002, 116 Stat. 1378, provided that: "The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect October 1, 2002."

Senior Foreign Service Performance Pay

Pub. L. 103–236, title I, §173(a)–(c), Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 412, as amended by Pub. L. 103–415, §1(gg), Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4303, provided that:

"(a) Prohibition on Awards.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of State may not award or pay performance payments for fiscal years 1994 and 1995 under section 405 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3965), unless the Secretary awards or pays performance awards to other Federal employees for such fiscal years.

"(b) Awards in Subsequent Fiscal Years.—The Secretary may not make a performance award or payment in any fiscal year after a fiscal year referred to in subsection (a) for the purpose of providing an individual with a performance award or payment to which the individual would otherwise have been entitled in a fiscal year referred to in such subsection but for the prohibition described in such subsection.

"(c) Application to USIA, AID, and ACDA.—Subsections (a) and (b) shall apply to the United States Information Agency, the Agency for International Development, and the United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency in the same manner as such subsections apply to the Department of State, except that the Director of the United States Information Agency, the Administrator of the Agency for International Development, and the Director of the United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency shall be subject to the limitations and authority of the Secretary of State under subsections (a) and (b) for their respective agencies."

[For abolition of United States Information Agency (other than Broadcasting Board of Governors and International Broadcasting Bureau), transfer of functions, and treatment of references thereto, see sections 6531, 6532, and 6551 of this title, and for abolition, transfer of functions, and treatment of references to United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, see section 6511 et seq. of this title.]

Review of Performance Pay Programs

Pub. L. 100–204, title I, §175(a), Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1361, provided that:

"(1) Suspension of awards during review.—During the period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 22, 1987], and ending on the date on which the Inspector General of the Department of State reports to the Congress pursuant to paragraph (2), performance pay may not be awarded under section 405 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3965) to any member of the Senior Foreign Service in the Department of State.

"(2) Review by inspector general.—The Inspector General of the Department of State shall conduct a complete and thorough review of—

"(A) the procedures in the Department of State under which performance pay recipients are chosen to determine whether the procedures and award determinations are free from bias and reflect fair standards; and

"(B) the adequacy of the criteria and the equity of the criteria actually applied in making those awards.

The review should be conducted in accordance with generally accepted Government auditing standards. The Inspector General shall report the results of this review to the Secretary of State and to the Congress no later than May 1, 1988.

"(3) Report by secretary of state.—No later than 60 days after the report of the Inspector General is submitted to the Secretary of State under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall submit to the Congress a report containing the comments of the Secretary on the report of the Inspector General and describing the actions taken and proposed to be taken by the Secretary as a result of the report."

§3966. Within-class salary increases

(a) Time period; limitation

Any member of the Service receiving a salary under the Foreign Service Schedule shall be advanced to the next higher salary step in the member's class at the beginning of the first applicable pay period following the completion by that member of a period of—

(1) 52 calendar weeks of service in each of salary steps 1 through 9, and

(2) 104 calendar weeks of service in each of salary steps 10 through 13,

unless the performance of the member during that period is found in a review by a selection board established under section 4002 of this title to fall below the standards of performance for his or her salary class.

(b) Additional increase for meritorious service

The Secretary may grant, on the basis of especially meritorious service, to any member of the Service receiving an increase in salary under subsection (a), an additional salary increase to any higher step in the salary class in which the member is serving.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §406, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2089.)

§3967. Salaries for Foreign Service personnel abroad who perform routine duties

(a) The Secretary may establish salary rates at rates lower than those established for the Foreign Service Schedule for the Foreign Service personnel described in subsection (b). The rates established under this subsection may be no less than the then applicable minimum wage rate specified in section 206(a)(1) of title 29.

(b) The Secretary may pay Foreign Service personnel who are recruited abroad, who are not available or are not qualified for assignment to another Foreign Service post, and who perform duties of a more routine nature than are generally performed by Foreign Service personnel assigned to class 9 in the Foreign Service Schedule, in accordance with the salary rates established under subsection (a).

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §407, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2090.)

§3968. Local compensation plans

(a) Establishment; rates of pay; leaves of absence; supplemental payments; transfer from Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund

(1) The Secretary shall establish compensation (including position classification) plans for foreign national employees of the Service and United States citizens employed under section 3951(c)(1) of this title. To the extent consistent with the public interest, each compensation plan shall be based upon prevailing wage rates and compensation practices (including participation in local social security plans) for corresponding types of positions in the locality of employment, except that such compensation plans shall provide for payment of wages to United States citizens at a rate which is no less than the then applicable minimum wage rate specified in section 206(a)(1) of title 29. Any compensation plan established under this section may include provision for (A) leaves of absence with pay for employees in accordance with prevailing law and employment practices in the locality of employment without regard to any limitation contained in section 6310 of title 5, (B) programs for voluntary transfers of such leave and voluntary leave banks, which shall, to the extent practicable, be established in a manner consistent with the provisions of subchapters III and IV, respectively, of chapter 63 of title 5, and (C) payments by the Government and employees to (i) a trust or other fund in a financial institution in order to finance future benefits for employees, including provision for retention in the fund of accumulated interest and dividends for the benefit of covered employees; or (ii) a Foreign Service National Savings Fund established in the Treasury of the United States, which (I) shall be administered by the Secretary, at whose direction the Secretary of the Treasury shall invest amounts not required for the current needs of the Fund; and (II) shall be public monies, which are authorized to be appropriated and remain available without fiscal year limitation to pay benefits, to be invested in public debt obligations bearing interest at rates determined by the Secretary of the Treasury taking into consideration current average market yields on outstanding marketable obligations of the United States of comparable maturity, and to pay administrative expenses. For United States citizens under a compensation plan, the Secretary shall define those allowances and benefits provided under United States law which shall be included as part of the total compensation package, notwithstanding any other provision of law, except that this section shall not be used to override United States minimum wage requirements, or any provision of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 301 et seq.] or title 26.

(2) The Secretary may make supplemental payments to any civil service annuitant who is a former foreign national employee of the Service (or who is receiving an annuity as a survivor of a former foreign national employee of the Service) in order to offset exchange rate losses, if the annuity being paid such annuitant is based on—

(A) a salary that was fixed in a foreign currency that has appreciated in value in terms of the United States dollar; and

(B) service in a country in which (as determined by the Secretary) the average retirement benefits being received by individuals who retired from competitive local organizations are superior to the local currency value of civil service annuities plus any other retirement benefits payable to foreign national employees who retired during similar time periods and after comparable careers with the Government.

(3)(A) Whenever a foreign national employee so elects during a one-year period established by the Secretary of State with respect to each post abroad, the Secretary of the Treasury (at the direction of the Secretary of State) shall transfer such employee's interest in the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund to a trust or other local retirement plan certified by the United States Government under a local compensation plan established for foreign national employees pursuant to this section (excluding local social security plans).

(B) For purposes of subparagraph (A), the phrase "employee's interest in the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund" means the total contributions of the employee and the employing agency with respect to such employee, pursuant to sections 8331(8) and 8334(a)(1) of title 5, respectively, plus interest at the rate provided in section 8334(e)(3) of such title.

(C) Any such transfer shall void any annuity rights or entitlement to lump-sum credit under subchapter III of chapter 83 of such title.

(b) Employment programs

For the purpose of performing functions abroad, any agency or other Government establishment (including any establishment in the legislative or judicial branch) may administer employment programs for its employees who are foreign nationals, are United States citizens employed in the Service abroad who were hired while residing abroad, or are family members of Government employees assigned abroad, in accordance with the applicable provisions of this chapter.

(c) Regulations

The Secretary of State may prescribe regulations governing the establishment and administration of local compensation plans under this section by all agencies and other Government establishments.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §408, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2090; Pub. L. 98–164, title I, §127(a), Nov. 22, 1983, 97 Stat. 1026; Pub. L. 101–246, title I, §141(a), Feb. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 35; Pub. L. 102–138, title I, §§148, 152, Oct. 28, 1991, 105 Stat. 670, 672; Pub. L. 103–236, title I, §180(a)(4), Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 415; Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, §1000(a)(7) [div. A, title III, §322], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A-436; Pub. L. 107–228, div. A, title III, §313, Sept. 30, 2002, 116 Stat. 1378.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Social Security Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), is act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, 49 Stat. 620, as amended, which is classified generally to chapter 7 (§301 et seq.) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1305 of Title 42 and Tables.

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (b), was in the original "this Act", meaning Pub. L. 96–465, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2071, as amended, known as the Foreign Service Act of 1980, which is classified principally to this chapter (§3901 et. seq.). For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 3901 of this title and Tables.

Amendments

2002—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 107–228 in third sentence substituted "payments by the Government and employees to (i) a trust or other fund in a financial institution in order to finance future benefits for employees, including provision for retention in the fund of accumulated interest and dividends for the benefit of covered employees; or (ii) a Foreign Service National Savings Fund established in the Treasury of the United States, which (I) shall be administered by the Secretary, at whose direction the Secretary of the Treasury shall invest amounts not required for the current needs of the Fund; and (II) shall be public monies, which are authorized to be appropriated and remain available without fiscal year limitation to pay benefits, to be invested in public debt obligations bearing interest at rates determined by the Secretary of the Treasury taking into consideration current average market yields on outstanding marketable obligations of the United States of comparable maturity, and to pay administrative expenses." for "payments by the Government and employees to a trust or other fund in a financial institution in order to finance future benefits for employees, including provision for retention in the fund of accumulated interest for the benefit of covered employees."

1999—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 106–113, in last sentence, struck out "(A) provide such citizens with a total compensation package (including wages, allowances, benefits, and other employer payments, such as for social security) that has the equivalent cost to that received by foreign national employees occupying a similar position at that post and (B)" after "Secretary shall" and substituted "the total compensation package" for "this total compensation package".

1994—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 103–236, §180(a)(4)(D), inserted at end "For United States citizens under a compensation plan, the Secretary shall (A) provide such citizens with a total compensation package (including wages, allowances, benefits, and other employer payments, such as for social security) that has the equivalent cost to that received by foreign national employees occupying a similar position at that post and (B) define those allowances and benefits provided under United States law which shall be included as part of this total compensation package, notwithstanding any other provision of law, except that this section shall not be used to override United States minimum wage requirements, or any provision of the Social Security Act or title 26."

Pub. L. 103–236, §180(a)(4)(B), (C), in second sentence struck out "employed in the Service abroad who were hired while residing abroad and to those family members of Government employees who are paid in accordance with such plans" after "United States citizens" and in third sentence struck out "foreign national" before "employees" wherever appearing.

Pub. L. 103–236, §180(a)(4)(A), inserted first sentence and struck out former first sentence which read as follows: "The Secretary shall establish compensation (including position classification) plans for foreign national employees of the Service, United States citizens employed in the Service abroad who were hired while residing abroad, and for United States citizens employed in the Service abroad who are family members of Government employees."

1991—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 102–138, §152(a), inserted "United States citizens employed in the Service abroad who were hired while residing abroad," after "employees of the Service," and "to United States citizens employed in the Service abroad who were hired while residing abroad and" after "payment of wages".

Pub. L. 102–138, §148, added cl. (B) and redesignated former cl. (B) as (C).

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102–138, §152(b), inserted ", are United States citizens employed in the Service abroad who were hired while residing abroad," after "foreign nationals".

1990—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 101–246 added par. (3).

1983—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 98–164 designated existing provisions as cl. (A) and added cl. (B).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Date of Transfer From Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund

Pub. L. 101–246, title I, §141(c), Feb. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 35, provided that: "The transfer of an employee's interest in the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund shall occur after October 1, 1990."

Foreign National Pay Plans

Pub. L. 96–60, title I, §107(a), Aug. 15, 1979, 93 Stat. 397, provided that: "It is the sense of the Congress that the Secretary of State should—

"(1) improve coordination between the Department of State and the Department of Defense and other departments and agencies of the United States operating outside the United States with respect to foreign national pay systems and wage schedules to the extent that—

"(A) joint wage surveys and compatible pay schedules are adopted in countries where two or more departments or agencies of the United States directly employ foreign nationals, and

"(B) Department of Defense wage rates are included in wage surveys of the Department of State where the Department of Defense operates under indirect-hire arrangements;

"(2) monitor the establishment of wage rates outside the United States more closely to insure that United States missions—

"(A) operate under salary schedules that reflect private sector average pay or average pay ranges,

"(B) include the cost of severance in making pay adjustments, and

"(C) survey jobs in the private sector which represent as closely as possible the work force of the mission; and

"(3) substitute, whenever possible, prevailing local retirement plans for civil service retirement with respect to the retirement of foreign nationals employed by the United States."

§3968a. Locally-employed staff wages

(a) Market-responsive staff wages

Not later than 180 days after December 16, 2016, and periodically thereafter, the Secretary shall establish and implement a prevailing wage rates goal for positions in the local compensation plan, as described in section 3968 of this title, at each diplomatic post that—

(1) is based on the specific recruiting and retention needs of each such post and local labor market conditions, as determined annually; and

(2) is not less than the 50th percentile of the prevailing wage for comparable employment in the labor market surrounding each such post.

(b) Exception

The prevailing wage rate goal established under subsection (a) shall not apply if compliance with such subsection would be inconsistent with applicable United States law, the law in the locality of employment, or the public interest.

(c) Recordkeeping requirement

The analytical assumptions underlying the calculation of wage levels at each diplomatic post under subsection (a), and the data upon which such calculation is based—

(1) shall be filed electronically and retained for not less than 5 years; and

(2) shall be made available to the appropriate congressional committees upon request.

(Pub. L. 114–323, title IV, §401, Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1926.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Department of State Authorities Act, Fiscal Year 2017, and not as part of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 which comprises this chapter.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Definitions

For definitions of "Secretary" and "appropriate congressional committees" as used in this section, see section 2 of Pub. L. 114–323, set out as a note under section 2651 of this title.

§3969. Salaries of consular agents

The Secretary of State shall establish the salary rate for each consular agent. Such salary rate shall be established after taking into account the workload of the consular agency and the prevailing wage rates in the locality where the agency is located, except that, in the case of a consular agent who is a citizen of the United States, the salary rate may not be less than the then applicable minimum wage rate specified in section 206(a)(1) of title 29.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §409, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2091.)

§3970. Compensation for imprisoned foreign national employees

(a) Eligibility; rates of compensation; terms and conditions of payment; applicability of powers under other statutory provisions

The head of any agency or other Government establishment (including any in the legislative or judicial branch) may compensate any current or former foreign national employee, or any foreign national who is or was employed under a personal services contract, who is or has been imprisoned by a foreign government if the Secretary of State (or, in the case of a foreign national employed by the Central Intelligence Agency, the Director of Central Intelligence) determines that such imprisonment is the result of the employment of the foreign national by the United States. Such compensation may not exceed the amount that the agency head determines approximates the salary and other benefits to which the foreign national would have been entitled had he or she been employed during the period of such imprisonment. Such compensation may be paid under such terms and conditions as the Secretary of State deems appropriate. For purposes of this section, an agency head shall have the same powers with respect to imprisoned foreign nationals who are or were employed by the agency as an agency head has under subchapter VII of chapter 55 of title 5 to the extent that such powers are consistent with this section.

(b) Time spent imprisoned considered as period of employment

Any period of imprisonment of a current or former foreign national employee which is compensable under this section shall be considered for purposes of any other employee benefit to be a period of employment by the Government, except that a period of imprisonment shall not be creditable—

(1) for purposes of subchapter III of chapter 83 of title 5, unless it is expressly creditable under that subchapter; or

(2) for purposes of subchapter I of chapter 81 of title 5, unless the individual was employed by the Government at the time of his or her imprisonment.

(c) Time of filing of claims

No compensation or other benefit shall be awarded under this section unless a claim therefor is filed within 3 years after—

(1) the termination of the period of imprisonment giving rise to the claim, or

(2) the date of the claimant's first opportunity thereafter to file such a claim, as determined by the appropriate agency head.

(d) Regulations

The Secretary of State may prescribe regulations governing payments under this section by all agencies and other Government establishments.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §410, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2091.)

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 Pub. L. 108–458, set out as a note under section 3001 of Title 50, War and National Defense.

§3971. Temporary service as principal officer

For such time (in excess of such minimum period as the Secretary of State may establish) as any member of the Service is temporarily in charge of a Foreign Service post during the absence or incapacity of the principal officer, that member shall receive, in addition to the basic salary paid to the member and notwithstanding sections 5535 and 5536 of title 5, an amount equal to that portion (which the Secretary of State may determine to be appropriate) of the difference between such salary and the basic salary provided for the principal officer, or, if there is no principal officer, for the former principal officer.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §411, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2091.)

§3972. Special differentials

(a) Additional work requirements

The Secretary may pay special differentials, in addition to compensation otherwise authorized, to Foreign Service officers who are required because of the nature of their assignments to perform additional work on a regular basis in substantial excess of normal requirements.

(b) Salary limitations

The Inspector General of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) shall limit the payment of special differentials to USAID Foreign Service criminal investigators to levels at which the aggregate of basic pay and special differential for any pay period would equal, for such criminal investigators, the bi-weekly pay limitations on premium pay regularly placed on other criminal investigators within the Federal law enforcement community. This provision shall be retroactive to January 1, 2013.

(c) Compensatory time off

Nothing in this chapter, or in subchapter V of chapter 55 of title 5 shall preclude the granting of compensatory time off for Foreign Service officers.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §412, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2092; Pub. L. 103–236, title I, §139(6), Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 398; Pub. L. 114–323, title II, §206, Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1917.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2016—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 114–323 added subsec. (b).

1994—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–236 struck out subsec. (b) which read as follows: "Before implementing any proposal to limit either the number of Foreign Service officers who may receive a special differential under subsection (a) of this section or the amounts of such special differentials, the Secretary shall submit such proposal to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives."

§3973. Death gratuities

(a) Criteria; amount; payment deemed gift

The Secretary may provide for payment of a gratuity to the surviving dependents of any Foreign Service employee, who dies as a result of injuries sustained in the performance of duty abroad, in an amount equal to one year's salary at level II of the Executive Schedule under section 5313 of title 5 at the time of death, except that for employees compensated under local compensation plans established under section 3968 of this title the amount shall be equal to the greater of either one year's salary at the time of death, or one year's basic salary at the highest step of the highest grade on the local compensation plan from which the employee was being paid at the time of death. Any death gratuity payment made under this section shall be held to have been a gift and shall be in addition to any other benefit payable from any source.

(b) Other executive agencies

The head of an executive agency shall, pursuant to guidance issued under subsection (c), make a death gratuity payment authorized by this section to the survivors of any employee of that agency or of an individual in a special category serving in an uncompensated capacity for that agency, as identified in guidance issued under subsection (c), who dies as a result of injuries sustained in the performance of duty abroad while subject to the authority of the chief of mission pursuant to section 3927 of this title.

(c) Guidance

Not later than 60 days after January 17, 2014, the Secretary shall, in consultation with the heads of other relevant executive agencies, issue guidance with criteria for determining eligibility for, and order of payments to, survivors and beneficiaries of any employee or of an individual in a special category serving in an uncompensated capacity for that agency who dies as a result of injuries sustained in the performance of duty while subject to the authority of the chief of mission pursuant to section 3927 of this title.

(d) Eligibility to elect monthly compensation as condition to payment

A death gratuity payment shall be made under this section only if the survivor entitled to payment under subsection (c) is entitled to elect monthly compensation under section 8133 of title 5, because the death resulted from an injury (excluding a disease proximately caused by the employment) sustained in the performance of duty, without regard to whether such survivor elects to waive compensation under such section 8133.

(e) Definitions

As used in this section—

(1) the term "Foreign Service employee" means any member of the Service or United States representative to an international organization or commission; and

(2) each of the terms "widow", "widower", "child", and "parent" shall have the same meaning given each such term by section 8101 of title 5.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §413, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2092; Pub. L. 113–76, div. K, title VII, §7082(a), Jan. 17, 2014, 128 Stat. 565.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2014—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 113–76, §7082(a)(1), substituted "at level II of the Executive Schedule under section 5313 of title 5, United States Code, at the time of death, except that for employees compensated under local compensation plans established under section 3968 of this title the amount shall be equal to the greater of either one year's salary at the time of death, or one year's basic salary at the highest step of the highest grade on the local compensation plan from which the employee was being paid at the time of death" for "at the time of death".

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 113–76, §7082(a)(2), (3), added subsec. (b) and redesignated former subsec. (b) as (d). Former subsec. (d) redesignated (e).

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 113–76, §7082(a)(4), amended subsec. (c) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "A death gratuity payment under this section shall be made as follows:

"(1) First, to the widow or widower.

"(2) Second, to the child, or children in equal shares, if there is no widow or widower.

"(3) Third, to the dependent parent, or dependent parents in equal shares, if there is no widow, widower, or child.

"If there is no survivor entitled to payment under this subsection, no payment shall be made."

Subsecs. (d), (e). Pub. L. 113–76, §7082(a)(2), redesignated subsecs. (b) and (d) as (d) and (e), respectively.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2014 Amendment

Pub. L. 113–76, div. K, title VII, §7082(c), Jan. 17, 2014, 128 Stat. 567, provided that: "Notwithstanding any other provision of law, sections 413, 415, and 416 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 [22 U.S.C. 3973, 3975, 3976], as amended or added by this section, shall apply in the case of a Foreign Service employee or executive branch employee subject to the authority of the chief of mission pursuant to section 207 of the Foreign Service Act (22 U.S.C. 3927), serving at a United States diplomatic or consular mission abroad, who died on or after April 18, 1983, as a result of injuries sustained in an act of terrorism, as defined in section 140(d) of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1998 and 1999 [probably means "1988 and 1989"] (22 U.S.C. 2656f(d))."

§3974. Border equalization pay adjustment

(a) In general

An employee who regularly commutes from the employee's place of residence in the continental United States to an official duty station in Canada or Mexico shall receive a border equalization pay adjustment equal to the amount of comparability payments under section 5304 of title 5 that the employee would receive if the employee were assigned to an official duty station within the United States locality pay area closest to the employee's official duty station.

(b) Employee defined

For purposes of this section, the term "employee" means a person who—

(1) is an "employee" as defined under section 2105 of title 5; and

(2) is employed by the Department of State, the United States Agency for International Development, or the International Joint Commission of the United States and Canada (established under Article VII of the treaty signed January 11, 1909) (36 Stat. 2448), except that the term shall not include members of the Service (as specified in section 3903 of this title).

(c) Treatment as basic pay

An equalization pay adjustment paid under this section shall be considered to be part of basic pay for the same purposes for which comparability payments are considered to be part of basic pay under section 5304 of title 5.

(d) Regulations

The heads of the agencies referred to in subsection (b)(2) may prescribe regulations to carry out this section.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §414, as added Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, §1000(a)(7) [div. A, title III, §333(a)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A-439.)

§3975. Group life insurance supplement applicable to those killed in terrorist attacks

(a) Foreign Service employees

(1) In general

Notwithstanding the amounts specified in chapter 87 of title 5, a Foreign Service employee who dies as a result of injuries sustained while on duty abroad because of an act of terrorism, as defined in section 2656f(d) of this title, shall be eligible for a special payment of $400,000, which shall be in addition to any employer provided life insurance policy coverage. In the case of an employee compensated under a local compensation plan established under section 3968 of this title, the amount of such payment shall be determined by regulations implemented by the Secretary of State and shall be no greater than $400,000. The group life insurance supplement employee benefit paid or scheduled to be paid pursuant to this section should not be used to reduce any other payment to which a recipient is otherwise eligible under Federal law.

(2) Designation of beneficiary

A payment made under paragraph (1) shall be made in accordance with the guidance issued under section 3973(c) of this title.

(b) Other executive agencies

The head of an executive agency shall provide the additional payment authorized by this section, consistent with the provisions set forth in subsection (a), with respect to any employee of that agency or of an individual in a special category serving in an uncompensated capacity for that agency who dies as a result of injuries sustained while on duty abroad because of an act of terrorism, as defined in section 2656f(d) of this title, while subject to the authority of the chief of mission pursuant to section 3927 of this title.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §415, as added Pub. L. 113–76, div. K, title VII, §7082(b)(1), Jan. 17, 2014, 128 Stat. 565; amended Pub. L. 114–113, div. K, title VII, §7034(d)(5)(A), Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 2763; Pub. L. 115–31, div. J, title VII, §7034(k)(8), May 5, 2017, 131 Stat. 651.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 2656f(d) of this title, referred to in subsecs. (a)(1) and (b), was in the original "section 140(d) of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1998 and 1999", and was translated as meaning "section 140(d) of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1988 and 1989", to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Amendments

2017—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 115–31, which directed amendment by adding "The group life insurance supplement employee benefit paid or scheduled to be paid pursuant to this section should not be used to reduce any other payment to which a recipient is otherwise eligible under Federal law." in par. (1) without specifying a particular location, was executed by inserting the amendment at the end of par. (1) to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

2015—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 114–113 substituted "a special payment of $400,000, which shall be in addition to any employer provided life insurance policy coverage" for "a payment from the United States in an amount that, when added to the amount of the employee's employer-provided group life insurance policy coverage (if any), equals $400,000".

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section applicable in the case of a Foreign Service or executive branch employee subject to the authority of the chief of mission pursuant to section 3927 of this title, serving at a United States diplomatic or consular mission abroad, who died on or after April 18, 1983, as a result of injuries from an act of terrorism, as defined in section 2656f(d) of this title, see section 7082(c) of Pub. L. 113–76, set out as an Effective Date of 2014 Amendment note under section 3973 of this title.

Applicability

Pub. L. 114–113, div. K, title VII, §7034(d)(5)(B), Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 2763, provided that: "The insurance benefit under section 415 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3975), as amended by subparagraph (A), shall be applicable to eligible employees who die as a result of injuries sustained while on duty abroad because of an act of terrorism, as defined in section 140(d) of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1998 and 1999 (22 U.S.C. 2656f(d)), anytime on or after April 18, 1983."

§3976. Survivors' and dependents' educational assistance

(a) Foreign Service employees

The Secretary shall, pursuant to guidance issued under section 3973(c) of this title, provide educational assistance to a beneficiary of any United States national Foreign Service employee who dies while on duty abroad as a result of an act of terrorism, as defined in section 2656f(d) of this title, to meet, in whole or in part, the expenses incurred by the beneficiary in pursuing a program of education at an educational institution, including subsistence, tuition, fees, supplies, books, equipment, and other educational costs.

(b) Other executive agencies

The head of an executive agency shall, pursuant to guidance issued under section 3973(c) of this title provide educational assistance authorized by this section to a beneficiary of any employee of that agency who dies as a result of an act of terrorism or terrorism, as defined in section 2656f(d) of this title, while on duty abroad and subject to the authority of the chief of mission pursuant to section 3927 of this title.

(c) Amount of assistance

Educational assistance under this section may be made available up to the amounts provided for in section 3532 of title 38, as adjusted by section 3564 of title 38, and for an aggregate period not in excess of 48 months.

(d) Program of education and educational institution defined

For purposes of this section, the terms "program of education" and "educational institution" have the meanings given the terms in section 3501 of title 38.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §416, as added Pub. L. 113–76, div. K, title VII, §7082(b)(1), Jan. 17, 2014, 128 Stat. 566.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 2656f(d) of this title, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (b), was in the original "section 140(d) of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1998 and 1999", and was translated as meaning "section 140(d) of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1988 and 1989", to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section applicable in the case of a Foreign Service or executive branch employee subject to the authority of the chief of mission pursuant to section 3927 of this title, serving at a United States diplomatic or consular mission abroad, who died on or after April 18, 1983, as a result of injuries from an act of terrorism, as defined in section 2656f(d) of this title, see section 7082(c) of Pub. L. 113–76, set out as an Effective Date of 2014 Amendment note under section 3973 of this title.

SUBCHAPTER V—CLASSIFICATION OF POSITIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

§3981. Authority of Secretary

The Secretary shall designate and classify positions in the Department and at Foreign Service posts which are to be occupied by members of the Service (other than by chiefs of mission and ambassadors at large). Positions designated under this section are excepted from the competitive service. Position classifications under this section shall be established, without regard to chapter 51 of title 5, in relation to the salaries established under subchapter IV. In classifying positions at Foreign Service posts abroad, the Secretary shall give appropriate weight to job factors relating to service abroad and to the compensation practices applicable to United States citizens employed abroad by United States corporations.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §501, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2092.)

§3982. Assignments to Foreign Service positions

(a) Positions assignable; basis for assignment

(1) The Secretary (with the concurrence of the agency concerned) may assign a member of the Service to any position classified under section 3981 of this title in which that member is eligible to serve (other than as chief of mission or ambassador at large), and may assign a member from one such position to another such position as the needs of the Service may require.

(2) In making assignments under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall assure that a member of the Service is not assigned to or prohibited from being assigned to a position at a post in a particular geographic area on the basis of the race, ethnicity, or religion of that member.

(b) Filling of positions by members of Service; employment of members of State Department and other agencies

Positions designated as Foreign Service positions normally shall be filled by the assignment of members of the Service to those positions. Subject to that limitation—

(1) Foreign Service positions may be filled by the assignment for specified tours of duty of employees of the Department and, under interagency agreements, employees of other agencies; and

(2) Senior Foreign Service positions may also be filled by other members of the Service.

(c) Charge d'affaires

The President may assign a career member of the Service to serve as charge d'affaires or otherwise as the head of a mission (or as the head of a United States office abroad which is designated under section 3902(a)(3) ¹ of this title by the Secretary of State as diplomatic in nature) for such period as the public interest may require.

(d) Competitive ability with respect to chief of mission positions and for assignments outside areas of specialization

The Secretary of State, in conjunction with the heads of the other agencies utilizing the Foreign Service personnel system, shall implement policies and procedures to insure that Foreign Service officers and members of the Senior Foreign Service of all agencies are able to compete for chief of mission positions and have opportunities on an equal basis to compete for assignments outside their areas of specialization.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §502, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2093; Pub. L. 98–164, title I, §130(b), Nov. 22, 1983, 97 Stat. 1027; Pub. L. 114–323, title IV, §414(d), Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1933.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 3902(a)(3) of this title, referred to in subsec. (c), was redesignated section 3902(3) of this title pursuant to Pub. L. 98–164, which struck out the designation "(a)" and subsec. (b) of section 3902.

Amendments

2016—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 114–323 inserted "or prohibited from being assigned to" after "assigned to" and struck out "exclusively" before "on the basis".

1983—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 98–164 added subsec. (d).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Report Respecting Policies and Procedures Adopted To Improve Competitive Ability of Personnel

Pub. L. 98–164, title I, §130(c), Nov. 22, 1983, 97 Stat. 1028, directed Secretary of State, not later than one year after Nov. 22, 1983, to submit a report to Speaker of House of Representatives and chairman of Committee on Foreign Relations of Senate describing policies and procedures adopted pursuant to the amendment made by section 130(b) of Pub. L. 98–164, adding subsec. (d) of this section, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 103–236, title I, §139(10), Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 398.

Executive Documents

Delegation of Functions

Functions of President under subsec. (c) delegated to Secretary of State, see section 1 of Ex. Ord. No. 12293, Feb. 23, 1981, 46 F.R. 13969, set out as a note under section 3901 of this title.

¹ See References in Text note below.

§3983. Assignments to non-Service and other positions

(a) Positions assignable

The Secretary may (with the concurrence of the agency, organization, or other body concerned) assign a member of the Service for duty—

(1) in a non-Foreign Service (including Senior Executive Service) position in the Department or another agency, or with an international organization, international commission, or other international body;

(2) with a domestic or international trade, labor, agricultural, scientific, or other conference, congress, or gathering;

(3) for special instruction, training, or orientation at or with a public or private organization; and

(4) in the United States (or in any territory or possession of the United States or in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico), with a State or local government, a public or private nonprofit organization (including an educational institution), or a Member or office of the Congress.

(b) Salary; travel and other expenses

(1) The salary of a member of the Service assigned under this section shall be the higher of the salary which that member would receive but for the assignment under this section or the salary of the position to which that member is assigned.

(2) The salary of a member of the Service assigned under this section shall be paid from appropriations made available for the payment of salaries and expenses of the Service. Such appropriations may be reimbursed for all or any part of the costs of salaries and other benefits for members assigned under this section.

(3) A member of the Service assigned under subsection (a)(4) to a Member or office of the Congress shall be deemed to be an employee of the House of Representatives or the Senate, as the case may be, for purposes of payment of travel and other expenses.

(c) Length of assignment

Except as otherwise provided in subsection (d)(5), assignments under this section may not exceed four years of continuous service for any member of the Service unless the Secretary approves an extension of such period for that member because of special circumstances.

(d) Assignment to the American Institute in Taiwan

(1) The Secretary may assign a member of the Service, or otherwise detail an employee of the Department, for duty at the American Institute in Taiwan, if the Secretary determines that to do so is in the national interest of the United States.

(2) The head of any other department or agency of the United States may, with the concurrence of the Secretary, detail an employee of that department or agency to the American Institute in Taiwan, if the Secretary determines that to do so is in the national interest of the United States.

(3) In this subsection, the term "employee" does not include—

(A) a noncareer appointee, limited term appointee, or limited emergency appointee (as such terms are defined in section 3132(a) of title 5) in the Senior Executive Service; or

(B) an employee in a position that has been excepted from the competitive service by reason of its confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character.

(4) An assignment or detail under this subsection may be made with or without reimbursement from the American Institute in Taiwan.

(5) The period of an assignment or detail under this subsection shall not exceed a total of 6 years, except that the Secretary (or any other head of a department or agency of the United States, with the concurrence of the Secretary) may extend the period of an assignment or detail for an additional period of not more than 6 years.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §503, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2093; Pub. L. 107–228, div. A, title III, §326, Sept. 30, 2002, 116 Stat. 1386.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2002—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 107–228, §326(2), substituted "Except as otherwise provided in subsection (d)(5), assignments" for "Assignments".

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 107–228, §326(1), added subsec. (d).

§3984. Service in United States and abroad

(a) Obligation to serve abroad; length of stay in United States

Career members of the Service shall be obligated to serve abroad and shall be expected to serve abroad for substantial portions of their careers. The Secretary shall establish by regulation limitations upon assignments of members of the Service within the United States. A member of the Service may not be assigned to duty within the United States for any period of continuous service exceeding eight years unless the Secretary approves an extension of such period for that member because of special circumstances.

(b) Intermittent duty within United States

Consistent with the needs of the Service, the Secretary shall seek to assign each career member of the Service who is a citizen of the United States (other than those employed in accordance with section 3951 of this title) to duty within the United States at least once during each period of fifteen years that the member is in the Service.

(c) Sabbaticals

The Secretary may grant a sabbatical to a career member of the Senior Foreign Service for not to exceed eleven months in order to permit the member to engage in study or uncompensated work experience which will contribute to the development and effectiveness of the member. A sabbatical may be granted under this subsection under conditions specified by the Secretary in light of the provisions of section 3396(c) of title 5, which apply to sabbaticals granted to members of the Senior Executive Service.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §504, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2094; Pub. L. 103–236, title I, §180(a)(5), Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 416.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1994—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–236 inserted "(other than those employed in accordance with section 3951 of this title)" after "citizen of the United States".

§3985. Temporary details

A period of duty of not more than six months in duration by a member of the Service shall be considered a temporary detail and shall not be considered an assignment within the meaning of this subchapter.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §505, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2094.)

SUBCHAPTER VI—PROMOTION AND RETENTION

§4001. Promotions

(a) Method of promotion

Career members of the Senior Foreign Service are promoted by appointment under section 3942(a) of this title to a higher salary class in the Senior Foreign Service. Members of the Senior Foreign Service serving under career candidate appointments or noncareer appointments are promoted by appointment under section 3943 of this title to a higher salary class in the Senior Foreign Service. Foreign Service officers, and Foreign Service personnel who are assigned to a class in the Foreign Service Schedule, are promoted by appointment under section 3942(a) of this title as career members of the Senior Foreign Service or by assignment under section 3964 of this title to a higher salary class in the Foreign Service Schedule.

(b) Recommendations and rankings of selection boards

Except as provided in section 4006(a) of this title, promotions of—

(1) members of the Senior Foreign Service, and

(2) members of the Service assigned to a salary class in the Foreign Service Schedule (including promotions of such members into the Senior Foreign Service),

shall be based upon the recommendations and rankings of selection boards established under section 4002 of this title, except that the Secretary may by regulation specify categories of career members, categories of career candidates, and other members of the Service assigned to salary classes in the Foreign Service Schedule who may receive promotions on the basis of satisfactory performance.

(c) Eligibility; request for promotion; time of consideration; withdrawal of request; basis for decision; affidavits

(1) Promotions into the Senior Foreign Service shall be recommended by selection boards only from among career members of the Service assigned to class 1 in the Foreign Service Schedule who request that they be considered for promotion into the Senior Foreign Service. The Secretary shall prescribe the length of the period after such a request is made (within any applicable time in class limitation established under section 4007(a) of this title) during which such members may be considered by selection boards for entry into the Senior Foreign Service. A request by a member for consideration for promotion into the Senior Foreign Service under this subsection may be withdrawn by the member, but if it is withdrawn, that member may not thereafter request consideration for promotion into the Senior Foreign Service.

(2) Decisions by the Secretary on the numbers of individuals to be promoted into and retained in the Senior Foreign Service shall be based upon a systematic long-term projection of personnel flows and needs designed to provide—

(A) a regular, predictable flow of recruitment in the Service;

(B) effective career development patterns to meet the needs of the Service; and

(C) a regular, predictable flow of talent upward through the ranks and into the Senior Foreign Service.

(3) The affidavit requirements of sections 3332 and 3333(a) of title 5 shall not apply with respect to a member of the Service who has previously complied with those requirements and who subsequently is promoted by appointment to any class in the Senior Foreign Service without a break in service.

(4), (5) Repealed. Pub. L. 114–323, title VII, §715(b)(5), Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1946.

(6)(A) The promotion of any individual joining the Service on or after January 1, 2017, to the Senior Foreign Service shall be contingent upon such individual completing at least one tour in—

(i) a global affairs bureau; or

(ii) a global affairs position.

(B) The requirements under subparagraph (A) shall not apply if the Secretary certifies that the individual proposed for promotion to the Senior Foreign Service—

(i) has met all other requirements applicable to such promotion; and

(ii) was unable to complete a tour in a global affairs bureau or global affairs position because there was not a reasonable opportunity for such individual to be assigned to such a position.

(C) In this paragraph—

(i) the term "global affairs bureau" means any bureau of the Department that is under the responsibility of—

(I) the Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and Environment;

(II) the Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Affairs;

(III) the Under Secretary for Management;

(IV) the Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs;

(V) the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs; or

(VI) the Under Secretary for Civilian, Security, Democracy, and Human Rights; and

(ii) the term "global affairs position" means any position funded with amounts appropriated to the Department under the heading "Diplomatic Policy and Support".

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §601, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2094; Pub. L. 100–204, title I, §185(b), Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1366; Pub. L. 103–236, title I, §180(a)(6), Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 416; Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, §1000(a)(7) [div. A, title III, §326], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A-437; Pub. L. 114–291, §6, Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1498; Pub. L. 114–323, title IV, §403, title VII, §715(b)(5), Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1927, 1946.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2016—Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 114–323, §715(b)(5), struck out par. (4) which read as follows: "Not later than March 1, 2001, and every four years thereafter, the Secretary of State shall submit a report to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate which shall include a workforce plan for the subsequent five years, including projected personnel needs, by grade and by skill. Each such plan shall include for each category the needs for foreign language proficiency, geographic and functional expertise, and specialist technical skills. Each workforce plan shall specifically account for the training needs of Foreign Service personnel and shall delineate an intake program of generalist and specialist Foreign Service personnel to meet projected future requirements."

Pub. L. 114–291 substituted "include a workforce plan" for "include the following:

"(A) A description of the steps taken and planned in furtherance of—

"(i) maximum compatibility among agencies utilizing the Foreign Service personnel system, as provided for in section 3923 of this title, and

"(ii) the development of uniform policies and procedures and consolidated personnel functions, as provided for in section 3924 of this title.

"(B) A workforce plan".

Subsec. (c)(5). Pub. L. 114–323, §715(b)(5), struck out par. (5) which read as follows: "If there are substantial modifications to any workforce plan under paragraph (4)(B) during any year in which a report under paragraph (4) is not required, a supplemental annual notification shall be submitted in the same manner as reports are required to be submitted under paragraph (4)."

Subsec. (c)(6). Pub. L. 114–323, §403, added par. (6).

1999—Subsec. (c)(4), (5). Pub. L. 106–113 added pars. (4) and (5) and struck out former par. (4), which required report not later than Mar. 1 of each year, describing steps taken and planned in furtherance of compatibility and development of uniform procedures and consolidated personnel functions, specifying upper and lower limits planned for recruitment, retention, and advancement of members, and specifying numbers of members assigned to positions more than one grade higher or lower than the member.

1994—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–236, which directed amendment of par. (2) by striking "and" the last place it appears and by inserting "and other members of the Service" after "categories of career candidates,", was executed by striking "and" after "categories of career members," and making the insertion in concluding provisions below par. (2), to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

1987—Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 100–204 added par. (4).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Reports Eliminated

Pub. L. 104–66, title II, §2241, Dec. 21, 1995, 109 Stat. 733, which provided that reports required under section 4001(c)(4) of this title would not cover activities of the United States Information Agency, was repealed by Pub. L. 105–277, div. G, subdiv. A, title XIII, §1336(5), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–790.

Language Training in Foreign Service

Pub. L. 102–138, title I, §155, Oct. 28, 1991, 105 Stat. 675, as amended by Pub. L. 105–277, div. G, subdiv. A, title XIII, §1335(q), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–789, provided that: "The Department of State and the Department of Commerce shall ensure that the precepts for promotion of Foreign Service employees provide that end-of-training reports for employees in full-time language training shall be weighed as heavily as the annual employee efficiency reports, in order to ensure that employees in language training are not disadvantaged in the promotion process."

Foreign Service Promotion Panels

Pub. L. 101–246, title I, §163, Feb. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 47, as amended by Pub. L. 107–132, §1(b), Jan. 16, 2002, 115 Stat. 2412, provided that: "It is the sense of the Congress that, to the greatest extent possible, Foreign Service promotion panels should—

"(1) only promote candidates to the Senior Foreign Service who have demonstrated foreign language proficiency in at least one language at the General Professional Speaking Proficiency level, as defined by the George P. Shultz National Foreign Affairs Training Center;

"(2) strive for the objective stipulated in the Foreign Service Manual 'to be able to use two foreign languages at a minimum professional level of proficiency of S–3/R–3, which is the general professional speaking proficiency level'; and

"(3) have at least one person on each Foreign Service promotion panel who has attained at least the General Professional Speaking Proficiency level in one language level."

Language Proficiency in Employee Evaluation Report

Pub. L. 101–246, title I, §164, Feb. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 47, required revision of employee and officer evaluation reports for Foreign Service officers of Department of State and Agency for International Development to include separate assessment of employee's effectiveness in using foreign language and required that precedence in promotion be given to officers achieving certain levels of proficiency in foreign language, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 103–236, title I, §191(b), Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 418. See section 191(a) of Pub. L. 103–236, set out as a note under section 3926 of this title.

§4002. Establishment of selection boards

(a) Evaluation of performance; recommendations

The Secretary shall establish selection boards to evaluate the performance of members of the Senior Foreign Service and members of the Service assigned to a salary class in the Foreign Service Schedule. Selection boards shall, in accordance with precepts prescribed by the Secretary, rank the members of a salary class on the basis of relative performance and may make recommendations for—

(1) promotions in accordance with section 4001 of this title;

(2) awards of performance pay under section 3965(c) of this title;

(3) denials of within-class step increases under section 3966(a) of this title;

(4) offer or renewal of limited career extensions under section 4007(b) of this title; and

(5) such other actions as the Secretary may prescribe by regulation.

(b) Public members; appointment of women and minority groups

All selection boards established under this section shall include public members. The Secretary shall assure that a substantial number of women and members of minority groups are appointed to each selection board established under this section.

(c) Disqualification for service on foreign service selection boards

No public members appointed pursuant to this section may be, at the time of their appointment or during their appointment, an agent of a foreign principal (as defined by section 611(b) of this title) or a lobbyist for a foreign entity (as defined in section 1602(6) of title 2) or receive income from a government of a foreign country.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §602, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2095; Pub. L. 101–246, title I, §142, Feb. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 36; Pub. L. 104–65, §12(c), Dec. 19, 1995, 109 Stat. 701.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1995—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 104–65 inserted "or a lobbyist for a foreign entity (as defined in section 1602(6) of title 2)" before "or receive income".

1990—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 101–246 added subsec. (c).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1995 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 104–65 effective Jan. 1, 1996, except as otherwise provided, see section 24 of Pub. L. 104–65, set out as an Effective Date note under section 1601 of Title 2, The Congress.

§4003. Recommendations and rankings

(a) Recommendations and rankings by selection boards shall be based upon records of the character, ability, conduct, quality of work, industry, experience, dependability, usefulness, and general performance of members of the Service. Such records may include reports prepared by or on behalf of the Inspector General of the Department of State and the Foreign Service, performance evaluation reports of supervisors, records of commendations, reports of language test scores from the George P. Shultz National Foreign Affairs Training Center, awards, reprimands, and other disciplinary actions, and (with respect to members of the Senior Foreign Service) records of current and prospective assignments.

(b) Precepts for selection boards shall include a description of the needs of the Service for performance requirements, skills, and qualities, which are to be considered in recommendations for promotion. The precepts for selection boards responsible for recommending promotions into and within the Senior Foreign Service shall emphasize performance which demonstrates the strong policy formulation capabilities, executive leadership qualities, and highly developed functional and area expertise, which are required for the Senior Foreign Service. The precepts for selection boards shall include, whether the member of the Service or the member of the Senior Foreign Service, as the case may be, has demonstrated—

(1) a willingness and ability to explain United States policies in person and through the media when occupying positions for which such willingness and ability is, to any degree, an element of the member's duties, or

(2) other experience in public diplomacy.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §603, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2095; Pub. L. 107–132, §1(b), Jan. 16, 2002, 115 Stat. 2412; Pub. L. 108–458, title VII, §7110(c), Dec. 17, 2004, 118 Stat. 3794.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2004—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 108–458 inserted at end "The precepts for selection boards shall include, whether the member of the Service or the member of the Senior Foreign Service, as the case may be, has demonstrated—" and pars. (1) and (2).

2002—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 107–132 substituted "George P. Shultz National Foreign Affairs Training Center" for "Foreign Service Institute".

§4004. Records

(a) The records described in section 4003(a) of this title shall be maintained in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary. Except to the extent that they pertain to the receipt, disbursement, and accounting for public funds, such records shall be confidential and subject to inspection only by the President, the Secretary, such employees of the Government as may be authorized by law or assigned by the Secretary to work on such records, the legislative and appropriations committees of the Congress charged with considering legislation and appropriations for the Service, and representatives duly authorized by such committees. Access to such records relating to a member of the Service shall be granted to such member, upon written request.

(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), any record of disciplinary action that includes a suspension of more than five days taken against a member of the Service, including any correction of that record under section 4137(b)(1) of this title, shall remain a part of the personnel records until the member is tenured as a career member of the Service or next promoted.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §604, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2096; Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, §1000(a)(7) [div. A, title III, §327(a)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A-438.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1999—Pub. L. 106–113, in section catchline, substituted "Records" for "Confidentiality of records", designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), and added subsec. (b).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1999 Amendment

Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, §1000(a)(7) [div. A, title III, §327(b)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A-438, provided that: "The amendments made by this section [amending this section] apply to all disciplinary actions initiated on or after the date of enactment of this Act [Nov. 29, 1999]."

§4005. Implementation of selection board recommendations

(a) Recommendations for promotion made by selection boards shall be submitted to the Secretary in rank order by salary class or in rank order by specialization within a salary class. The Secretary shall make promotions and, with respect to career appointments into or within the Senior Foreign Service, shall make recommendations to the President for promotions, in accordance with the rankings of the selection boards.

(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), in special circumstances set forth by regulation, the Secretary may remove the name of an individual from the rank order list submitted by a selection board or delay the promotion of an individual named in such a list.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §605, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2096.)

§4006. Other bases for promoting or increasing pay

(a) The Secretary may pursuant to a recommendation of the Foreign Service Grievance Board, an equal employment opportunity appeals examiner, or the Special Counsel of the Merit Systems Protection Board, and shall pursuant to a decision or order of the Merit Systems Protection Board—

(1) recommend to the President a promotion of a member of the Service under section 3942(a) of this title;

(2) promote a member of the Service under section 3943 of this title;

(3) grant performance pay to a member of the Senior Foreign Service under section 3965(c) of this title; or

(4) grant a within-class salary increase under section 3966 of this title to a member of the Service who is assigned to a salary class in the Foreign Service Schedule.

(b) In implementing subsection (a) of this section and in cases in which the Secretary has exercised the authority of section 4005(b) of this title, the Secretary may, in special circumstances set forth by regulation, make retroactive promotions, grant performance pay, make retroactive within-class salary increases, and recommend retroactive promotions by the President.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §606, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2096.)

§4007. Retirement for expiration of time in class

(a) Maximum time

(1) The Secretary shall, by regulation, establish maximum time in class limitations for—

(A) career members of the Senior Foreign Service,

(B) Foreign Service officers, and

(C) other career members of the Service who are in such occupational categories as may be designated by the Secretary and who are assigned to salary classes in the Foreign Service Schedule to which Foreign Service officers may also be assigned.

(2) Maximum time in class limitations under this subsection (which may not be less than 3 years for career members of the Senior Foreign Service) may apply with respect to the time a member may remain in a single salary class or in a combination of salary classes.

(3) The Secretary may, by regulation, increase or decrease any maximum time in class established under this subsection as the needs of the Service may require. If maximum time in class is decreased, the Secretary shall provide any member of the Service who is in a category and salary class subject to the new time in class limitation an opportunity to remain in class (notwithstanding the new limitation) for a period which is at least as long as the shorter of—

(A) the period which the member would have been permitted to remain in class but for the decrease in maximum time in class, or

(B) such minimum period as the Secretary determines is necessary to provide members of the Service who are in the same category and salary class as that member a reasonable opportunity to be promoted into the next higher class or combination of classes, as the case may be.

(b) Limited career extension

Members of the Service whose maximum time in class under subsection (a) expires—

(1) after they have attained the highest salary class for their respective occupational categories, or

(2) in the case of members of the Senior Foreign Service, while they are in salary classes designated by the Secretary,

may continue to serve only under limited extentions of their career appointments. Such limited extensions may not exceed 5 years in duration and may be granted and renewed by the Secretary in accordance with the recommendations of selection boards established under section 4002 of this title. Members of the Service serving under such limited career extensions shall continue to be career members of the Service.

(c) Members subject to retirement; reception of retirement benefits

Any member of the Service—

(1) whose maximum time in class under subsection (a) expires and who is not promoted to a higher class or combination of classes, as the case may be, or

(2) whose limited career extension under subsection (b) expires and is not renewed,

shall be retired from the Service and receive benefits in accordance with section 4009 of this title, subject to any career extension under subsection (d) of this section.

(d) Extensions

Notwithstanding any other provision of this section—

(1) the career appointment of a member of the Service whose maximum time in class under subsection (a) expires, or whose limited career extension under subsection (b) expires, while that member is occupying a position to which he or she was appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall be extended until the appointment to that position is terminated; and

(2) if the Secretary determines it to be in the public interest, the Secretary may extend temporarily the career appointment of a career member of the Service whose maximum time in class or limited career extension expires, but in no case may any extension under this paragraph exceed one year and such extensions may be granted only in special circumstances.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §607, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2096.)

§4008. Retirement based on failure to meet standard of performance

(a) The Secretary shall prescribe regulations concerning the standards of performance to be met by career members of the Service who are citizens of the United States. Whenever a selection board review indicates that the performance of such a career member of the Service may not meet the standards of performance for his or her class, the Secretary shall provide for administrative review of the performance of the member. The review shall include an opportunity for the member to be heard.

(b) In any case where the administrative review conducted under subsection (a) substantiates that a career member of the Service has failed to meet the standards of performance for his or her class, the member shall be retired from the Service and receive benefits in accordance with section 4009 of this title.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §608, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2097.)

§4009. Retirement benefits

(a) Entitlement

A member of the Service—

(1) who is retired under section 4007(c)(2) of this title; or

(2) who is retired under section 4007(c)(1) or 4008(b) or 4010a of this title—

(A) after becoming eligible for voluntary retirement under section 4051 of this title or any other applicable provision of chapter 84 of title 5, or

(B) from the Senior Foreign Service or while assigned to class 1 in the Foreign Service Schedule,

shall receive retirement benefits in accordance with section 4046 of this title or section 4071d of this title, as appropriate.

(b) Computation of amount; refund; death of member

Any member of the Service (other than a member to whom subsection (a) applies) who is retired under section 4007(c)(1) or 4008(b) or 4010a of this title shall receive—

(1) one-twelfth of a year's salary at his or her then current salary rate for each year of service and proportionately for a fraction of a year, but not exceeding a total of one year's salary at his or her then current salary rate, payable without interest from the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability Fund in 3 equal installments, such installments to be paid on January 1 of each of the first 3 calendar years beginning after the retirement of the member (except that in special cases, the Secretary of State may accelerate or combine such installments); and

(2)(A) for those participants in the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability System, a refund as provided in section 4055 of this title of the contributions made by the member to the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability Fund, except that in lieu of such refund a member who has at least 5 years of service credit toward retirement under the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability System (excluding military and naval service) may elect to receive an annuity, computed under section 4046 of this title, commencing at age 60; and (B) for those participants in the Foreign Service Pension System, benefits as provided in section 4071 of this title.

In the event that a member of the Service has elected to receive retirement benefits under paragraph (2) and dies before reaching age 60 (for participants in the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability System) or age 62 (for participants in the Foreign Service Pension System), his or her death shall be considered a death in service within the meaning of section 4049 of this title.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §609, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2098; Pub. L. 103–236, title I, §181(a)(3), Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 417; Pub. L. 105–277, div. G, subdiv. B, title XXIII, §2312(a), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–827.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1998—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105–277, §2312(a)(2), inserted "or section 4071d of this title, as appropriate" after "section 4046 of this title" in concluding provisions.

Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Pub. L. 105–277, §2312(a)(1), inserted "or any other applicable provision of chapter 84 of title 5" after "section 4051 of this title".

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 105–277, §2312(a)(4), inserted "(for participants in the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability System) or age 62 (for participants in the Foreign Service Pension System)" after "age 60" in concluding provisions.

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 105–277, §2312(a)(3), designated existing provisions as subpar. (A), inserted "for those participants in the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability System," before "a refund", and added subpar. (B).

1994—Subsecs. (a)(2), (b). Pub. L. 103–236 inserted "or 4010a" after "4008(b)".

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1998 Amendment

Pub. L. 105–277, div. G, subdiv. B, title XXIII, §2312(c), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–827, provided that:

"(1) In general.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), the amendments made by this section [amending this section and section 4071d of this title] shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 21, 1998].

"(2) Exceptions.—The amendments made by paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection (a) and paragraphs (1)(A) and (2) of subsection (b) [amending this section and section 4071d of this title] shall apply with respect to any actions taken under section 611 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 [22 U.S.C. 4010a] on or after January 1, 1996."

Special Annuity for Certain Foreign Service Officers

Pub. L. 95–105, title IV, §411, Aug. 17, 1977, 91 Stat. 855, as amended by Pub. L. 95–426, title IV, §412(b), Oct. 7, 1978, 92 Stat. 981, provided that:

"(a) Subject to the conditions established in subsection (b), any Foreign Service officer—

"(1) who was retired under section 633(a)(1) of the Foreign Service Act of 1946 [former section 1003(a)(1) of this title, see section 4007(a) of this title] before the date of enactment of this section, [Aug. 17, 1977];

"(2) who was not in class 1, 2, or 3 at the time of retirement;

"(3) who was 40 years of age or older at the time of retirement; and

"(4) who had at least 20 years of service, exclusive of credit for unused sick leave, creditable for purposes of section 821 of such Act [former section 1076 of this title, see section 4046 of this title] at the time of retirement;

shall be entitled to receive retirement benefits in accordance with the provisions of such section 821 [former section 1076 of this title, see section 4046 of this title] in lieu of any retirement benefits which the officer may be entitled to elect under section 634(b)(2) of such Act [former section 1004(b)(2) of this title, see subsec. (b)(2) of this section]. Such retirement benefits shall be paid from the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability Fund and shall be effective on the date the officer reaches age 50, the date of enactment of this section [Aug. 17, 1977], or October 1, 1977, whichever date is latest.

"(b) Retirement benefits may not be paid under this section unless (1) any refund of contributions paid to the officer under section 634(b)(2) of the Foreign Service Act of 1946 [former section 1004(b)(2) of this title, see subsec. (b)(2) of this section] is repaid to the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability Fund, with interest, in accordance with sections 811(d) and (f) of such Act [former section 1071(d) and (f) of this title, see section 4045(d) and (f) of this title]; and (2) the service forming the basis for such retirement benefits is not used as the basis for any other retirement benefits under any retirement system.

"(c) In the event that an officer who is entitled to retirement benefits under this section dies before reaching the age of fifty, but after the date of enactment of this section [Aug. 17, 1977], his or her death shall be considered a death in service within the meaning of section 832 of the Foreign Service Act of 1946 [former section 1082 of this title, see section 4049 of this title], except that no survivor's annuity (other than a survivor's annuity which would be payable under the first complete sentence in section 634(b)(2) of such Act [former section 1004(b)(2) of this title, see subsec. (b)(2) of this section] but for the enactment of this section) shall become effective before October 1, 1977.

"(d) An officer