§3929 — Title 22 Foreign Relations and Intercourse | U.S. Code

Summary

Creates an independent Inspector General (IG) for the Department of State and the Foreign Service. The President picks the IG, and the Senate must approve. The IG must be someone with strong honesty and skills in things like accounting, audits, law, management, investigations, or foreign affairs. The IG reports to the Secretary of State but cannot be stopped by the Secretary or other Department officers from starting, carrying out, or finishing audits or investigations, or from issuing subpoenas. The Secretary can give the IG other duties, but cannot make the IG run regular program operations. The President may remove the IG, but must tell both Houses of Congress the reasons. The IG must inspect and audit every Foreign Service post and Department bureau at least once every 5 years. Reviews must check financial records, efficiency and economy, legal compliance (including section 3905), fraud or serious problems, and whether U.S. policy goals are being met. The IG must follow government audit standards, coordinate with the Comptroller General, and report possible criminal violations to the Attorney General quickly. Employees must be told about their right to counsel and the OIG’s general procedures. Investigations must follow federal law-enforcement standards, try to let people give exculpatory information, and include both exculpatory and inculpatory facts in final reports; people named should be given a chance to respond unless there is a strong reason not to. Heads of bureaus, posts, or offices must report certain allegations (including waste, fraud, criminal or serious misconduct, and misconduct by employees at FS–1, GS–15, or GM–15 or higher) to the IG within 5 business days of learning them. The IG must give the Secretary an annual report by April 30 describing problems, recommendations, outstanding fixes, referrals to prosecutors, audit reports, and certain cases; the IG must also report immediately on especially serious problems, and the Secretary must send those reports to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee within 7 days. The IG has similar authorities to other federal Inspectors General, may use assigned Department staff who then report only to the IG, protects whistleblower identities unless unavoidable, and may review chiefs of mission activities to see if they match U.S. foreign policy.

Title 22, §3929

Foreign Relations and Intercourse — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(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)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)(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)(A)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)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)(A)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)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)(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.

(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)(1)The Inspector General shall have the same authority in carrying out the provisions of this section as is granted under section 406 of title 5 to each Inspector General of an establishment (as defined in section 401 of title 5) for carrying out the provisions of chapter 4 of title 5, 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 406(c) and (d) of title 5.

(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)(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)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.

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Editorial Notes

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2022—Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 117–286 substituted “section 406 of title 5” for “section 6 of the Inspector General Act of 1978”, “section 401 of title 5)” for “section 11(2) of such Act)”, “chapter 4 of title 5,” for “that Act,”, and “section 406(c) and (d) of title 5.” for “section 6(b) and (c) of such Act.” 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

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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, as amended by Pub. L. 117–286, § 4(b)(43), Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4348, provided that: “Nothing in the

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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 407(b) of title 5, United States Code; “(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 RequirementsFor 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. Periodic Inspector General Reviews of Chiefs of Mission Pub. L. 118–159, div. G, title LXXII, § 7203, Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 2528, provided that: “(a) In General.—Beginning on

April 1, 2025, and for a 3-year period thereafter, the Inspector General of the Department of State shall conduct management reviews of chiefs of mission, charge d’affaires, and other principal officers assigned overseas during inspection visits, when those officers have been at post more than 180 days. “(b) Disposition.—If there are serious management concerns raised and substantiated, a copy of the management review document shall be provided to the rating officer for formal discussion as part of the performance evaluation process. The management review shall remain in the employee’s personnel file unless otherwise required by law. The subject of a review conducted pursuant to subsection (a) shall have the opportunity to respond to and comment on the review, and the response shall be included in the employee’s file for promotion panel review. “(c) Notification Requirement in Case of Serious Management Concerns.—The Inspector General of the Department of State shall notify the Secretary [of State], the Deputy Secretary, and the appropriate congressional committees [Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives] within 30 days of any review in which a preponderance of evidence shows that a chief of mission, charge d’affaires, or other principal officer did not meet Department guidelines, and such behavior negatively impacted the ability to conduct operations at the mission, and which information is not otherwise submitted as part of the periodic inspection or report.” 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

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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.”

§3929 Inspector General

Summary

Title 22, §3929

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Construction

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