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Title 22, Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-102

§1453 Acceptance of Office Under Foreign Governments of Assigned Personnel; Oath of Allegiance

Title 22 › CHAPTER 18 — UNITED STATES INFORMATION AND EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGE PROGRAMS › SUBCHAPTER III — ASSIGNMENT OF SPECIALISTS › § 1453

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

A U.S. government employee who is assigned to work with a foreign government may, if their U.S. agency agrees and the Director of the United States Information Agency also agrees, accept a position with that foreign government without extra pay when it is needed to do their assigned work. This can include handling or approving payments or receiving money to deposit and spend for that government. They must not be required to swear allegiance to the foreign government.

Full Legal Text

Title 22, §1453

Foreign Relations and Intercourse, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Any person in the employ or service of the Government of the United States while assigned for service to or in cooperation with another government under authority of this chapter may, at the discretion of his Government agency, with the concurrence of the Director of the United States Information Agency, and without additional compensation therefor, accept an office under the government to which he is assigned, if the acceptance of such an office in the opinion of such agency is necessary to permit the effective performance of duties for which he is assigned, including the making or approving on behalf of such foreign government the disbursement of funds provided by such government or of receiving from such foreign government funds for deposit and disbursement on behalf of such government, in carrying out programs undertaken pursuant to this chapter: Provided, however, That such acceptance of office shall in no case involve the taking of an oath of allegiance to another government.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1982—Pub. L. 97–241 substituted “person in the employ or service of the Government of the United States” for “citizen of the United States” and “Director of the United States Information Agency” for “Secretary”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Transfer of Functions

United States Information Agency (other than Broadcasting Board of Governors and International Broadcasting Bureau) abolished and functions transferred to Secretary of State, see section 6531 and 6532 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

22 U.S.C. § 1453

Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102