22 U.S.C. § 2734c

Employee assignment restrictions

(a) Appeal of assignment restriction

The Secretary shall establish and maintain a right and process for employees to appeal a decision related to an assignment, based on a restriction, review, or preclusion. Such right and process shall ensure that any such employee shall have the same appeal rights as provided by the Department regarding denial or revocation of a security clearance. Any such appeal shall be resolved not later than 60 days after such appeal is filed.

(b) Certification

Upon full implementation of a right and process for employees to appeal an assignment restriction or preclusion under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committee a report that—

(1)

certifies that such process has been fully implemented;

(2)

includes a detailed description of such process; and

(3)

details the number and nature of assignment restrictions and preclusions for the previous 3 years.

The Secretary shall—

(1)

publish in the Foreign Affairs Manual information relating to the right and process established pursuant to subsection (a); and

(2)

include a reference to such publication in the report required under subsection (b).

( Pub. L. 114–323, title IV, § 414 , Dec. 16, 2016 , 130 Stat. 1932 ; Pub. L. 117–81, div. E, title LIII, § 5311(b) , Dec. 27, 2021 , 135 Stat. 2364 ; Pub. L. 118–31, div. F, title LXI, § 6115(f) , Dec. 22, 2023 , 137 Stat. 970 .)