US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

22 U.S.C. § 2506

Peace Corps employees

(a)

Foreign employment; compensation, allowances, and benefits; utilization of Presidential authority respecting Foreign Service; additional compensation and differentials; additional governmental employment by person receiving Foreign Service Reserve or staff appointment or assignment; limitation on length of employment

(1)
22 U.S.C. 396222 U.S.C. 3950 For the purpose of performing functions under this chapter outside the United States, the President may employ or assign persons, or authorize the employment or assignment of officers or employees of agencies of the United States Government which are not authorized to utilize the Foreign Service personnel system, who shall receive compensation at any of the rates established under section 402 or 403 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 [, 3963], together with allowances and benefits thereunder; and persons so employed or assigned shall be entitled, except to the extent that the President may specify otherwise in cases in which the period of the employment or assignment exceeds thirty months, to the same benefits as are provided by section 310 of that Act [] for persons appointed to the Foreign Service.
(2)
22 U.S.C. 3901 The President may utilize such authority contained in the Foreign Service Act of 1980 [ et seq.] relating to members of the Foreign Service and other United States Government officers and employees as the President deems necessary to carry out functions under this chapter, except that—
(A)
no Foreign Service appointment or assignment under this paragraph shall be for a period of more than seven and one-half years, subject to paragraph (5) and except as provided in paragraph (6); and
(B)
no individual whose Foreign Service appointment or assignment under this paragraph has been terminated shall be reappointed or reassigned under this paragraph before the expiration of a period of time equal to the preceding tour of duty of that individual.
22 U.S.C. 390122 U.S.C. 394922 U.S.C. 395022 U.S.C. 3950section 206(a)(1) of title 29Subparagraphs (A) and (B) do not apply with respect to foreign national employees. Such provisions of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 [ et seq.] (other than the provisions of section 309 []) as the President deems appropriate shall apply to individuals appointed or assigned under this paragraph, including in all cases, the provisions of section 310 of that Act [], except that (i) the President may by regulation make exceptions to the application of section 310 [] in cases in which the period of the appointment or assignment exceeds thirty months, (ii) members of the Foreign Service appointed or assigned pursuant to this paragraph shall receive within-class salary increases in accordance with such regulations as the President may prescribe, and (iii) under such regulations as the President may prescribe, individuals who are to perform duties of a more routine nature than are generally performed by members of the Foreign Service assigned to class 9 in the Foreign Service Schedule may be appointed to an unenumerated class ranking below class 9 in the Foreign Service Schedule and be paid basic compensation at rates lower than those for class 9, except that such rates may be no less than the then applicable minimum wage rate specified in .
(3)
section 5941 of title 5section 2509(a)(5) of this title The President may specify what additional allowance authorized by and which of the allowances and differentials authorized by sections 5923 through 5925 of such title 5, may be granted to any person employed, appointed, or assigned under this subsection, or contracted with for personal services under , and may determine the rates thereof not to exceed the rates otherwise granted to employees under the sections of title 5 referred to in this paragraph.
(4)
An individual who has received an appointment or assignment in the Foreign Service under this subsection may, not later than , or three years after separation from such appointment or assignment, whichever is later, be appointed to a position in any United States department, agency, or establishment—
(A)
in the competitive service under title 5 without competitive examination and in accordance with such regulations and conditions consistent with this subsection as may be prescribed by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, or
(B)
in an established merit system in the excepted service,
if such individual (i) served satisfactorily under the authority of this subsection, as certified by the President, for not less than thirty-six months on a continuous basis without a break in service of more than three days, and (ii) is qualified for the position in question.
(5)
Except as provided in paragraph (6), the Director of the Peace Corps may make appointments or assignments of United States citizens under paragraph (2) for periods of more than five years only in the case of individuals whose performance as employees of the Peace Corps has been exceptional and only in order to achieve one or more of the following purposes:
(A)
To permit individuals who have served at least two and one-half years of such an appointment or assignment abroad to serve in the United States thereafter.
(B)
To permit individuals who have served at least two and one-half years of such an appointment or assignment in the United States to serve abroad thereafter.
(C)
To permit individuals who have served at least two and one-half years of such an appointment or assignment in a recruitment, selection, or training activity to be reassigned to an activity other than the one in which they have most recently so served.
(D)
To promote the continuity of functions in administering the Peace Corps.
At no time may the number of appointments or assignments of United States citizens in effect under paragraph (2) for periods in excess of five years exceed fifteen percent of the total of all appointments and assignments of United States citizens then in effect under paragraph (2).
(6)
Notwithstanding the limitation set forth in paragraph (2)(A) on the length of an appointment or assignment under paragraph (2) and notwithstanding the limitations set forth in paragraph (5) on the circumstances under which such an appointment or assignment may exceed five years, the Director of the Peace Corps, under special circumstances, may personally approve an extension of an appointment or assignment under paragraph (2) for not more than one year on an individual basis.
(7)
The limitations specified in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (2) and in paragraph (5) shall not apply to—
(A)
the Inspector General of the Peace Corps; and
(B)
officers and employees of the Office of the Inspector General of the Peace Corps.
(8)
(A)
The Director of the Peace Corps may designate Peace Corps positions as critical management or management support positions that require specialized technical or professional skills and knowledge of Peace Corps operations. Such positions may include positions in the following fields:
(i)
Volunteer health services.
(ii)
Financial management.
(iii)
Information technology.
(iv)
Procurement.
(v)
Personnel.
(vi)
Legal services.
(vii)
Safety and security.
(B)
Subject to subparagraphs (C) and (D), with respect to positions designated pursuant to subparagraph (A), the Director may make or extend renewable appointments or assignments under paragraph (2) notwithstanding limitations under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (2) and paragraph (5).
(C)
In exercising authority under subparagraph (B), the Director shall ensure that all decisions regarding the appointment, assignment, or extension of employees to any position designated pursuant to subparagraph (A)—
(i)
are consistent with Federal law and Peace Corps policy; and
(ii)
are based upon operational and programmatic factors.
(D)
The term of any appointment or assignment to any position designated pursuant to subparagraph (A) may not exceed 5 years.
(b)

Pub. L. 96–465, title II, § 2205(9)94 Stat. 2160 Repealed. , ,

(c)

Peace Corps representatives; terms and conditions of service; removal

In each country or area in which volunteers serve abroad, the President may appoint an employee or a volunteer as a Peace Corps representative to have direction of other employees of the Peace Corps abroad and to oversee the activities carried on under this chapter in such country or area. Unless a representative is a volunteer, the compensation, allowances and benefits, and other terms and conditions of service of each such representative, shall be the same as those of a person appointed, or assigned pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of this section, except that any such representative may, notwithstanding any provision of law, be removed by the President in his discretion.

Pub. L. 87–293, title I, § 775 Stat. 615Pub. L. 87–793, § 1001l76 Stat. 865Pub. L. 88–200, § 477 Stat. 360Pub. L. 89–134, § 479 Stat. 549Pub. L. 91–352, § 584 Stat. 465Pub. L. 96–53, title III, § 30293 Stat. 371Pub. L. 96–465, title II94 Stat. 2157Pub. L. 98–473, title I, § 101(1)98 Stat. 1884Pub. L. 99–83, title XI, § 1103(a)99 Stat. 272Pub. L. 112–57125 Stat. 744Pub. L. 115–256, title I, § 104132 Stat. 3653(, , ; (), , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , §§ 2202(b), 2205(9), , , 2160;  [title V, § 541(a)], , , 1903; , , ; , §§ 5(1), 6, , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Pub. L. 87–29375 Stat. 612section 2501 of this titleThis chapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this Act”, meaning , , , known as the Peace Corps Act. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.

Pub. L. 96–46594 Stat. 2071section 3901 of this titleThe Foreign Service Act of 1980, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), (2), is , , , which is classified principally to chapter 52 (§ 3901 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.

Codification

Pub. L. 98–473Pub. L. 98–473Amendment by is based on section 703 of H.R. 5119, Ninety-eighth Congress, as passed by the House of Representatives , which was enacted into permanent law by .

Amendments

Pub. L. 115–2562018—Subsec. (a)(8). added par. (8).

Pub. L. 112–57, § 5(1)section 2509(a)(5) of this title2011—Subsec. (a)(3). , inserted “, or contracted with for personal services under ,” after “employed, appointed, or assigned under this subsection”.

Pub. L. 112–57, § 6Subsec. (a)(7). , added par. (7).

Pub. L. 99–83, § 1103(a)(1)1985—Subsec. (a)(2)(A). , substituted “seven and one-half” for “five”, substituted “, subject to paragraph (5) and except as provided in paragraph (6)” for “unless the Director of the Peace Corps, under special circumstances, personally approves an extension of not more than one year on an individual basis”, and inserted reference to section 309 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980.

Pub. L. 99–83, § 1103(a)(2)Subsec. (a)(5), (6). , added pars. (5) and (6).

Pub. L. 98–4731984—Subsec. (a)(2). inserted provision that subparagraphs (A) and (B) do not apply with respect to foreign national employees.

Pub. L. 96–465, § 2202(b)(1)(A)22 U.S.C. 8011980—Subsec. (a)(1). , substituted “which are not authorized to utilize the Foreign Service personnel system, who shall receive compensation at any of the rates established under section 402 or 403 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980” for “, who shall receive compensation at any of the rates provided for persons appointed to the Foreign Service Reserve and Staff under the Foreign Service Act of 1946, as amended ( et seq.)” and “section 310” for “section 528” and struck out reference to the applicability of section 1005 of the Foreign Service Act of 1946.

Pub. L. 96–465, § 2202(b)(1)(B)section 206(a)(1) of title 29Subsec. (a)(2). , among other changes, substituted references to the Foreign Service Act of 1980 for references to the Foreign Service Act of 1946 and references to class 9 for class 10, and inserted provision relating to .

Pub. L. 96–465, § 2202(b)(2)Subsec. (a)(4). , among other changes, struck out provisions relating to the time Congress enacts Foreign Service personnel reform legislation, inserted reference to , and substituted “such individual” for “such person” and “continuous basis without a break in service of more than three days” for “substantially continuous basis”.

Pub. L. 96–465, § 2205(9)Subsec. (b). , struck out subsec. (b) which related to criteria for performance of foreign employment, separation, and severance benefits. See sections 3922 and 4007 to 4009 of this title.

Pub. L. 96–531979—Subsec. (a)(4). added par. (4).

Pub. L. 91–352section 5941 of title 5section 118h of title 51970—Subsec. (a)(3). substantially reenacted provisions and substituted references to , and sections 5923 through 5925 of such title 5, for references to and title II of the Overseas Differentials and Allowances Act.

Pub. L. 89–134, § 4(a)section 118h of title 51965—Subsec. (a). , (b), redesignated subsec. (c) as (a), incorporated into par. (1) material formerly set out as introductory material, spelled out the authority of the President to utilize his authority to appoint and assign persons under the Foreign Service Act of 1946 by making specific reference to his authority as it related to Foreign Service Reserve Officers, Foreign Service Staff officers and employees, alien clerks and employees and other Government officers and employees apart from the Foreign Service, limited to five-year duration all Foreign Service Reserve or Staff appointments and assignments unless the Director of the Peace Corps personally approved one-years extensions on an individual basis, prohibited reappointment or reassignment under this par. before expiration of a period of time equal to the length of the appointee’s preceding tour of duty, inserted proviso in par. (2) allowing appointment of an unenumerated class of Foreign Service staff officers and employees ranking below class 10 to be paid basic compensation at rates lower than those of class 10 to perform duties of a more routine nature than are usually performed by Foreign Service staff officers and employees of class 10, and, in par. (3), inserted reference to and substituted reference to subsec. (a) for reference to subsec. (c). Former subsec. (a), relating to domestic employment, was repealed.

Pub. L. 89–134, § 4(c)Subsec. (b). , redesignated subsec. (d) as (b), inserted “for the purpose of performing functions under this chapter outside the United States” after “or assigned”, and substituted reference to subsec. (a)(2) for reference to subsec. (c)(2). Former subsec. (b), relating to compensation for domestic employment, was repealed.

Pub. L. 89–134, § 4(d)Subsec. (c). , redesignated subsec. (e) as (c) and substituted reference to subsec. (a) of this section for reference to subsec. (c) of this section. Former subsec. (c) redesignated (a).

Pub. L. 89–134, § 4(c)Subsecs. (d), (e). , (d), redesignated subsecs. (d) and (e) as (b) and (c), respectively.

Pub. L. 88–2001963—Subsec. (b). struck out “so” before “employed”.

Pub. L. 87–7931962—Subsec. (b). substituted “but not in excess of the highest grade 18 of such general schedule” for “and of these not to exceed two may be compensated at a rate in excess of the highest rate provided for grades of such general schedule but not in excess of $19,000 per year”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1985 Amendment

Pub. L. 99–83section 1301 of Pub. L. 99–83section 2151–1 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1980 Amendment

Pub. L. 96–465section 2403 of Pub. L. 96–465section 3901 of this titleAmendment by effective , except as otherwise provided, see , set out as an Effective Date note under .

Effective Date of 1979 Amendment

Pub. L. 96–53section 512(a) of Pub. L. 96–53section 2151 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1965 Amendment

Pub. L. 89–134, § 5(a)79 Stat. 551

“Section 4 of this Act [amending this section] shall not become effective until the first day of the fourth pay period which begins after the date this Act becomes law. [].”
, , , provided that:

Effective Date of 1962 Amendment

Pub. L. 87–793section 1008 of Pub. L. 87–793Amendment by effective on first day of first pay period which begins on or after , see .

Peace Corps Appointments or Assignments

Pub. L. 108–199, div. D, title II118 Stat. 156

Provided further“That during fiscal year 2004 and any subsequent fiscal year, the Director of the Peace Corps may make appointments or assignments, or extend current appointments or assignments, to permit United States citizens to serve for periods in excess of 5 years in the case of individuals whose appointment or assignment, such as regional safety security officers and employees within the Office of the Inspector General, involves the safety of Peace Corps volunteers: , That the Director of the Peace Corps may make such appointments or assignments notwithstanding the provisions of section 7 of the Peace Corps Act [this section] limiting the length of an appointment or assignment, the circumstances under which such an appointment or assignment may exceed 5 years, and the percentage of appointments or assignments that can be made in excess of 5 years.”
, , , provided in part:

Similar provisions were contained in the following prior appropriation act:

Pub. L. 108–7, div. E, title II117 Stat. 171, , .

Reports to Congress

Pub. L. 99–83, title XI, § 1103(b)99 Stat. 273section 1103(a) of Pub. L. 99–83section 3003 of Pub. L. 104–66section 1113 of Title 31, , , which required the Director of the Peace Corps to submit to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives reports on the exercise of certain appointment authority granted under (amending subsec. (a) of this section), terminated, effective , pursuant to , as amended, set out as a note under , Money and Finance. See, also, page 189 of House Document No. 103–7.

Transfer of Washington Headquarters Personnel from Civil Service to Foreign Service Appointments

Pub. L. 89–134, § 5(b)79 Stat. 551

“Under such regulations as the President may prescribe, each person employed under authorities repealed by section 4(a) of this Act [which repealed former subsecs. (a) and (b) of this section providing for employment of Washington headquarters personnel in accordance with standard civil service laws] immediately prior to the effective date of that section [see Effective Date of 1965 Amendment note above] shall effective on that date be appointed a Foreign Service Reserve officer or Foreign Service staff officer or employee under the authority of section 7(a)(2) of the Peace Corps Act [subsec. (a)(2) of this section], as amended, and appointed or assigned to an appropriate class thereof; except that—
“(1)
no person who holds a career or career-conditional appointment immediately prior to the effective date of section 4(a) of this Act [see effective date of 1965 Amendment note above] shall, without his consent, be so appointed until three years after such effective date; and
“(2)
section 2501 of this title each person so appointed who, immediately prior to the effective date of section 4(a) of this Act [see effective date of 1965 Amendment note above], held a career or career-conditional appointment at grade 8 or below of the General Schedule established by the Classification Act of 1949, as amended [see § 5101 et seq. of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees], shall receive an appointment for the duration of operations under the Peace Corps Act, as amended [see Short Title note set out under ].
Each person appointed under this subsection shall receive basic compensation at the rate of his class determined by the President to be appropriate, but the rate of basic compensation received by such person immediately prior to the effective date of his appointment under this subsection shall not be reduced by the provisions of this subsection.”
, , , provided that:

section 5(b) of Pub. L. 89–134section 2501 of this titlesection 2501 of this title[Functions of the President conferred by , set out above, to prescribe regulations and make determinations (relating to appointment of Peace Corps Employees in the Foreign Service System) were delegated to the Director of the Peace Corps, by section 1–105 of Ex. Ord. No. 12137, , 44 F.R. 29023, set out as a note under . Such functions were previously transferred from the President to the Director of ACTION [now Corporation for National and Community Service] by section 102(c) of Ex. Ord. No. 11603, , 36 F.R. 12675, set out as a note under , which was superseded by section 1–707 of Ex. Ord. No. 12137.]

Executive Documents

Delegation of Functions

section 2501 of this titleFunctions of President under this section delegated to Director of Peace Corps by section 1–103 of Ex. Ord. No. 12137, , 44 F.R. 29023, eff. , set out as a note under .

Coordination of Changes in Policy With Secretary of State

section 2501 of this titleAny substantial changes in policies in effect on , for the utilization of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (§ 3901 et seq. of this title) pursuant to this section are to be coordinated with the Secretary of State, see section 1–111 of Ex. Ord. No. 12137, , 44 F.R. 29023, set out as a note under .

Benefits for Persons Appointed or Assigned Under Subsec. (a)

section 928 of this titlesection 2501 of this titlePersons appointed, employed, or assigned under subsec. (a) of this section are not, unless otherwise agreed by the agency in which such benefits may be exercised, entitled to the benefits provided by in cases in which their service under the appointment, employment, or assignment exceeds thirty months, see section 1–401 of Ex. Ord. No. 12137, , 44 F.R. 29023, set out as a note under .