---
kind: "section"
citation: "22 U.S.C. § 2735"
title: "22"
title_heading: "Foreign Relations and Intercourse"
number: "2735"
heading: "Foreign relations exchange programs"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/22/2735"
units:
  - "Chapter 38 — Department of State"
---

# §2735. Foreign relations exchange programs

- (a) **Authority—** The [Secretary](/usc/22/277d–43.md?p=5) may establish exchange programs under which officers or employees of the Department of State, including individuals appointed under [title 5](/usc/5.md) and members of the Foreign Service (as defined in [section 3903 of this title](/usc/22/3903.md)), may be assigned, for not more than 1 year, to a position with any foreign government or international entity that permits an employee to be assigned to a position with the Department of State.
- (b) **Salary and benefits—**
  - (1) **Members of Foreign Service—** During a period in which a member of the Foreign Service is participating in an exchange program authorized pursuant to [subsection (a)](#a), such member shall be entitled to the salary and benefits to which such member would receive but for the assignment under this section.
  - (2) **Non-Foreign Service employees of Department—** An employee of the Department of State other than a member of the Foreign Service participating in an exchange program authorized pursuant to [subsection (a)](#a) shall be treated in all respects as if detailed to an international organization pursuant to [section 3343(c) of title 5](/usc/5/3343.md?p=c).
  - (3) **Foreign participants—** The salary and benefits of an employee of a foreign government or international entity participating in an exchange program authorized pursuant to [subsection (a)](#a) shall be paid by such government or entity during the period in which such employee is participating in such program, and shall not be reimbursed by the Department of State.
- (c) **Non-reciprocal assignment—** The [Secretary](/usc/22/277d–43.md?p=5) may authorize a non-reciprocal assignment of personnel pursuant to this section, with or without reimbursement from the foreign government or international entity for all or part of the salary and other expenses payable during such assignment, if such is in the interests of the United States.
- (d) **Rule of construction—** Nothing in this section may be construed to authorize the appointment as an officer or employee of the United States of—
  - (1) an individual whose allegiance is to any country, government, or foreign or international entity other than to the United States; or
  - (2) an individual who has not met the requirements of sections [3331](/usc/5/3331.md), [3332](/usc/5/3332.md), [3333](/usc/5/3333.md), and [7311](/usc/5/7311.md) of title 5 or any other provision of law concerning eligibility for appointment as, and continuation of employment as, an officer or employee of the United States.

## Source credit

(Aug. 1, 1956, ch. 841, title I, § 63, as added Pub. L. 114–323, title VII, § 701(a), Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1939.)