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

22 U.S.C. § 3946

Career appointments

(a)

Trial period under limited appointment

Before receiving a career appointment in the Service, an individual shall first serve under a limited appointment as a career candidate for a trial period of service prescribed by the Secretary. During such trial period of service, the Secretary shall decide whether—
(1)
section 3943 of this title to offer a career appointment to the candidate under , or
(2)
section 3942 of this title to recommend to the President that the candidate be given a career appointment under .
(b)

Decisions by Secretary

Decisions by the Secretary under subsection (a) shall be based upon the recommendations of boards, established by the Secretary and composed entirely or primarily of career members of the Service, which shall evaluate the fitness and aptitude of career candidates for the work of the Service.

(c)

Foreign Service Grievance Board decisions

section 4137 of this titleNothing in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of the Secretary or the Foreign Service Grievance Board under .

Pub. L. 96–465, title I, § 30694 Stat. 2086Pub. L. 100–204, title I, § 181(c)101 Stat. 1363(, , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 100–2041987—Subsec. (c). added subsec. (c).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1987 Amendment

Pub. L. 100–204, title I, § 181(e)101 Stat. 1364

22 U.S.C. 4137“The amendments made by this section [amending this section and sections 4010 and 4137 of this title] shall not apply with respect to any grievance in which the Board has issued a final decision pursuant to section 1107 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 () before the date of enactment of this Act [].”
, , , provided that: