Title 22 — Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-73

§4138 Access to records

Title 22 › Chapter CHAPTER 52— - FOREIGN SERVICE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER XI— - GRIEVANCES › § 4138

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

A person who files a complaint can ask the Board to review any agency records that were refused to them before or during the Board’s review. The Board can ask agencies for records the complainant wants if the Board thinks they might help the case. The Board can also ask for other records it thinks might help. Agencies must give those records unless the agency head signs a written statement saying giving the records would harm U.S. foreign policy or national security or is forbidden by law. If that warning is given, the agency must still provide a summary or extract unless even that would cause the same harm. If the Board finds a record or its summary is important to the complaint, the agency must give it to the complainant. The Board can consider any denied access when making its decision. The complainant must get the written record of the Board’s proceedings and the Board’s decision.

Full Legal Text

Title 22, §4138

Foreign Relations and Intercourse — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)If a grievant is denied access to any agency record prior to or during the consideration of the grievance by the Department, the grievant may raise such denial before the Board in connection with the grievance.

(b)In considering a grievance, the Board shall have access to any agency record as follows:

(1)(A)The Board shall request access to any agency record which the grievant requests to substantiate the grievance if the Board determines that such record may be relevant and material to the grievance.

(B)The Board may request access to any other agency record which the Board determines may be relevant and material to the grievance.

(2)Any agency shall make available to the Board any agency record requested under paragraph (1) unless the head or deputy head of such agency personally certifies in writing to the Board that disclosure of the record to the Board and the grievant would adversely affect the foreign policy or national security of the United States or that such disclosure is prohibited by law. If such a certification is made with respect to any record, the agency shall supply to the Board a summary or extract of such record unless the reasons specified in the preceding sentence preclude such a summary or extract.

(c)If the Board determines that an agency record, or a summary or extract of a record, made available to the Board under subsection (b) is relevant and material to the grievance, the agency concerned shall make such record, summary, or extract, as the case may be, available to the grievant.

(d)In considering a grievance, the Board may take into account the fact that the grievant or the Board was denied access to an agency record which the Board determines is or may be relevant and material to the grievance.

(e)The grievant in any case decided by the Board shall have access to the record of the proceedings and the decision of the Board.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

22 U.S.C. § 4138

Title 22 — Foreign Relations and Intercourse

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73