§3983 Assignments to Non-service and Other Positions

Summary

The Secretary may, with the agreement of the agency or organization involved, assign a member of the Service to work outside the Foreign Service. That can include non‑Foreign Service jobs inside the Department or other agencies or international organizations, attending domestic or international conferences, doing special training or orientation with public or private groups, or working in the United States (including territories and Puerto Rico) with state or local governments, nonprofits, schools, or a Member or office of Congress. The member must be paid whichever is higher: their normal Service pay or the pay for the job they take. Their pay comes from Service funds, which may be reimbursed. If assigned to a Congressional office, they are treated as a House or Senate employee for travel and expense payments. Assignments normally cannot run more than four years unless the Secretary approves an extension for special reasons. The Secretary may assign or detail Department employees to the American Institute in Taiwan when it is in the U.S. national interest, and other agency heads may do so with the Secretary’s agreement. “Employee” here does not include certain noncareer or limited Senior Executive Service appointees, or jobs excepted from the competitive service for confidential or policy roles. Taiwan assignments may be with or without reimbursement and cannot exceed six years, except the Secretary (or another agency head with the Secretary’s agreement) may extend once for up to another six years.