Title 22, Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-110

§2739 Civil Service Rotational Program

Title 22 › CHAPTER 38 — DEPARTMENT OF STATE › § 2739

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary must set up a pilot rotation program within 180 days after December 22, 2023 to let qualified career civil servants serve at U.S. embassies. The program must give at least 20 career civil servants 2-to-3-year assignments, including work in political or economic sections, and must have clear application and selection rules that include at least 5 years of service at the Department. After the embassy rotation, participants must be placed in a job equal in rank, pay, and duties to their prior position, and completing the rotation must be viewed favorably for promotion. By 2 years after December 22, 2023, the Secretary must identify at least 20 embassy positions and offer at least 20 civil servants the chance to rotate.

Full Legal Text

Title 22, §2739

Foreign Relations and Intercourse, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Establishment of pilot rotational program for civil service
Not later than 180 days after December 22, 2023, the Secretary shall establish a program to provide qualified civil servants serving at the Department an opportunity to serve at a United States embassy, including identifying criteria and an application process for such program.
(b)Program
The program established under this section shall—
(1)provide at least 20 career civil servants the opportunity to serve for 2 to 3 years at a United States embassy to gain additional skills and experience;
(2)offer such civil servants the opportunity to serve in a political or economic section at a United States embassy; and
(3)include clear and transparent criteria for eligibility and selection, which shall include a minimum of 5 years of service at the Department.
(c)Subsequent position and promotion
Following a rotation at a United States embassy pursuant to the program established by this section, participants in the program must be afforded, at minimum, a position equivalent in seniority, compensation, and responsibility to the position occupied prior serving in the program. Successful completion of a rotation at a United States embassy shall be considered favorably with regard to applications for promotion in civil service jobs at the Department.
(d)Implementation
Not later than 2 years after December 22, 2023, the Secretary shall identify not less than 20 positions in United States embassies for the program established under this section and offer at least 20 civil servants the opportunity to serve in a rotation at a United States embassy pursuant to this section.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Definitions For definitions of “Secretary” and “Department” as used in this section, see section 6002 of Pub. L. 118–31, set out as a note under section 2651 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

22 U.S.C. § 2739

Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110