Collapse to view only § 3982. Assignments to Foreign Service positions
- § 3981. Authority of Secretary
- § 3982. Assignments to Foreign Service positions
- § 3983. Assignments to non-Service and other positions
- § 3984. Service in United States and abroad
- § 3985. Temporary details
§ 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. If a position designated under this section is unfilled for more than 365 calendar days, such position may be filled, as appropriate, on a temporary basis, in accordance with section 3949 of this title. 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; Pub. L. 117–81, div. E, title LI, § 5109(1), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2349.)
§ 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, or domestically, in a position working on issues relating to a particular country or 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
(d) Competitive ability with respect to chief of mission positions and for assignments outside 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; Pub. L. 117–81, div. E, title LI, § 5109(2), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2349.)
§ 3983. Assignments to non-Service and other positions
(a) Positions assignableThe 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
(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.)
§ 3984. Service in United States and abroad
(a) Obligation to serve abroad; length of stay in United States
(b) Intermittent duty within United States
(c) Sabbaticals
(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.)
§ 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.)