Title 22 — Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-73
§3922 Utilization of Foreign Service personnel system by other agencies
Title 22 › Chapter CHAPTER 52— - FOREIGN SERVICE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - MANAGEMENT OF SERVICE › § 3922
Summary
The Broadcasting Board of Governors and the Administrator of the Agency for International Development may use the Foreign Service personnel system for their agencies. The Secretary of Agriculture may use it for the Foreign Agricultural Service and for other USDA staff when the President finds it necessary for work overseas. The Secretary of Commerce may use it for staff moved from State by Reorganization Plan Numbered 3 of 1979 and for other Commerce staff when the President finds it necessary for work overseas. When the Secretary of State thinks it helps the U.S. government, the Secretary may let any agency head (even in the legislative or judicial branches) appoint people who are eligible under section 3951(a) as members of the Service under section 3943 and use the Foreign Service personnel system under rules the Secretary of State sets. All of the agency heads above, and any other agency head given authority elsewhere, may use the system, subject to section 3921(b).
Full Legal Text
Title 22, §3922
Foreign Relations and Intercourse — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(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),
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
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)(21) 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 AmendmentAmendment 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 ServiceThe 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 section 6531, 6532, and 6551 of this title.]
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
22 U.S.C. § 3922
Title 22 — Foreign Relations and Intercourse
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73