§2735 Foreign Relations Exchange Programs

Summary

The Secretary may create exchange programs that let State Department employees, including title 5 appointees and Foreign Service members (see section 3903), be assigned for up to 1 year to jobs with foreign governments or international organizations that allow similar exchanges. While on an exchange, Foreign Service members must keep the salary and benefits they would have had otherwise. Other State Department employees are handled the same as if detailed to an international organization under section 3343(c) of title 5. Employees sent by a foreign government or organization must be paid by their employer, and the Department of State will not reimburse those payments. The Secretary can also approve non-reciprocal assignments, with or without reimbursement from the foreign side, if it is in the interests of the United States. These rules do not allow hiring someone whose loyalty is to another country or who does not meet the eligibility and employment requirements in sections 3331, 3332, 3333, and 7311 of title 5 or other laws about being a U.S. officer or employee.