Title 22Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-73

§2739 Civil service rotational program

Title 22 › Chapter CHAPTER 38— - DEPARTMENT OF STATE › § 2739

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Create a program within 180 days after December 22, 2023 that lets qualified civil servants at the Department serve at a United States embassy. The Department must set the rules and an application process. The program must offer at least 20 career civil servants 2 to 3 year tours in a political or economic section and must include clear selection rules, including at least 5 years of Department service to be eligible. After the embassy rotation, participants must be returned to a job equal in rank, pay, and responsibility to their old one. Finishing a rotation must be looked on favorably for promotion. By no later than 2 years after December 22, 2023, the Secretary must identify at least 20 embassy positions and offer at least 20 civil servants these rotations.

Full Legal Text

Title 22, §2739

Foreign Relations and Intercourse — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Not later than 180 days after December 22, 2023, the Secretary shall establish a program to provide qualified civil servants serving at the Department an opportunity to serve at a United States embassy, including identifying criteria and an application process for such program.
(b)The program established under this section shall—
(1)provide at least 20 career civil servants the opportunity to serve for 2 to 3 years at a United States embassy to gain additional skills and experience;
(2)offer such civil servants the opportunity to serve in a political or economic section at a United States embassy; and
(3)include clear and transparent criteria for eligibility and selection, which shall include a minimum of 5 years of service at the Department.
(c)Following a rotation at a United States embassy pursuant to the program established by this section, participants in the program must be afforded, at minimum, a position equivalent in seniority, compensation, and responsibility to the position occupied prior serving in the program. Successful completion of a rotation at a United States embassy shall be considered favorably with regard to applications for promotion in civil service jobs at the Department.
(d)Not later than 2 years after December 22, 2023, the Secretary shall identify not less than 20 positions in United States embassies for the program established under this section and offer at least 20 civil servants the opportunity to serve in a rotation at a United States embassy pursuant to this section.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Definitions For definitions of “Secretary” and “Department” as used in this section, see section 6002 of Pub. L. 118–31, set out as a note under section 2651 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

22 U.S.C. § 2739

Title 22Foreign Relations and Intercourse

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73