Title 22 — Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-73

§4141 Statement of policy; objectives

Title 22 › Chapter CHAPTER 52— - FOREIGN SERVICE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER XI–A— - FOREIGN SERVICE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM › § 4141

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The United States must do strong outreach so the Foreign Service includes people who reflect the nation’s diversity. It must bring in qualified applicants while keeping hiring fair and based on merit. Special efforts are needed for Native Americans, African Americans, and Hispanic Americans because other programs have not attracted enough top candidates. Create a Foreign Service Internship Program to strengthen the Service. It must be a highly selective program that promotes the Foreign Service as a career to college students who reflect the country’s diversity.

Full Legal Text

Title 22, §4141

Foreign Relations and Intercourse — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Consistent with the findings of section 3901 of this title, the Foreign Service of the United States should be representative of the American people. In order to facilitate and encourage the entry into the Foreign Service of individuals who meet the rigorous requirements of the Service, while ensuring a Foreign Service system which reflects the cultural and ethnic diversity of the United States, intensive recruitment efforts are mandated. This is particularly true for Native Americans, African Americans, and Hispanic Americans, where other affirmative action and equal opportunity efforts have not been successful in attracting the ablest applicants for entry into the Foreign Service. The United States remains committed to equal opportunity and to a Foreign Service system operated on the basis of merit principles.

(b)The objective of this subchapter is to strengthen and improve the Foreign Service of the United States through the establishment of a Foreign Service Internship Program. The program shall promote the Foreign Service as a viable and rewarding career opportunity for qualified individuals who reflect the cultural and ethnic diversity of the United States through a highly selective internship program for students enrolled in institutions of higher education.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

22 U.S.C. § 4141

Title 22 — Foreign Relations and Intercourse

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73