Title 22Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-73

§4821 Diplomatic Security Service

Title 22 › Chapter CHAPTER 58— - DIPLOMATIC SECURITY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - PERSONNEL › § 4821

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Full Legal Text

Title 22, §4821

Foreign Relations and Intercourse — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The Secretary of State may establish a Diplomatic Security Service, which shall perform such functions as the Secretary may determine.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1994—Pub. L. 103–236 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section read as follows: “There shall be, within the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, the Diplomatic Security Service. The Diplomatic Security Service shall perform such functions as may be assigned to it by the Secretary of State.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1994 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 103–236 applicable with respect to officials, offices, and bureaus of Department of State when executive orders,

Regulations

, or departmental directives implementing the

Amendments

by section 161 and 162 of Pub. L. 103–236 become effective, or 90 days after Apr. 30, 1994, whichever comes earlier, see section 161(b) of Pub. L. 103–236, as amended, set out as a note under section 2651a of this title. Fairness in Issuance of Tactical Gear to Diplomatic Security Service Personnel Pub. L. 119–60, div. H, title LXXXIII, § 8364, Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1888, provided that: “(a) In general“In any instance when the Diplomatic Security Service of the Department of State issues tactical gear to Special Agents, uniform division officers, or personal service contractors, the Service must, whenever such products are commercially available, provide both men’s and women’s sizing options. “(b) Tactical gear defined“In this section, the term “tactical gear” includes, among other items, ballistic plates, ballistic plate carriers, helmets, media jackets, tactical pants, and gloves.” Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Victim Advocates Pub. L. 117–263, div. I, title XCII, § 9202(c), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3864, provided that: “The Secretary [of State] shall ensure that the Diplomatic Security Service’s Victims’ Resource Advocacy Program— “(1) is appropriately staffed by advocates who are physically present at—“(A) the headquarters of the Department [of State]; and “(B) major domestic and international facilities and embassies, as determined by the Secretary; “(2) considers the logistics that are necessary to allow for the expedient travel of victims from Department facilities that do not have advocates; and “(3) uses funds available to the Department to provide emergency food, shelter, clothing, and transportation for victims involved in matters being investigated by the Diplomatic Security Service.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

22 U.S.C. § 4821

Title 22Foreign Relations and Intercourse

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73