§2734h Increased Accountability in Assignment Restrictions and Reviews

Summary

Requires the Secretary of State to review and update how the Department decides who can serve at overseas posts and to keep checking those rules. Within 90 days after December 22, 2023, the Secretary must tell any employee who, before that date, had an assignment restriction, review, or ban and still has a pending decision what their status is. The Secretary must also tell any employee who has had a pending restriction or review for more than 30 days about their status on an ongoing basis. Each notice must say if a prior restriction was removed, whether the person is still under review and when that review should finish, and whether any other limits stop them from serving abroad. The Department must set a reasonable deadline for finishing assignment reviews and must tell employees the decision by that deadline. If an employee loses eligibility because of a restriction or review, a Security Appeal Panel must meet within 120 days after the employee files an appeal. New officers must get a briefing that explains the review process and which posts are high-risk for human intelligence threats. The Department must name contacts in Diplomatic Security and Global Talent Management to answer questions. The Security Appeal Panel must be formed within 90 days after December 22, 2023, and include senior HR and policy leaders, senior deputies from Global Talent Management and Intelligence and Research, a leader from another bureau chosen by the Under Secretary for Management, a regional bureau representative, and legal and security advisers as non-voting members. The Secretary must update the Foreign Affairs Manual and related policies within 120 days after December 22, 2023.