---
kind: "section"
citation: "22 U.S.C. § 4136"
title: "22"
title_heading: "Foreign Relations and Intercourse"
number: "4136"
heading: "Foreign Service Grievance Board procedures"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/22/4136"
units:
  - "Chapter 52 — Foreign Service"
  - "Subchapter XI — Grievances"
---

# §4136. Foreign Service Grievance Board procedures


The [Board](/usc/22/4102.md?p=2) may adopt regulations concerning its organization and procedures. Such regulations shall include provision for the following:

- (1) The [Board](/usc/22/4102.md?p=2) shall conduct a hearing at the request of a grievant in any case which involves—
  - (A) disciplinary action or the retirement of a grievant from the Service under section [4007](/usc/22/4007.md) or [4008](/usc/22/4008.md) of this title, or
  - (B) issues which, in the judgment of the [Board](/usc/22/4102.md?p=2), can best be resolved by a hearing or presentation of oral argument.
- (2) The grievant, the representatives of the grievant, the [exclusive representative](/usc/22/4102.md?p=9) (if the grievant is a member of the bargaining unit represented by the [exclusive representative](/usc/22/4102.md?p=9)), and the representatives of the [Department](/usc/22/3902.md?p=4) are entitled to be present at the hearing. The [Board](/usc/22/4102.md?p=2) may, after considering the views of the parties and any other individuals connected with the [grievance](/usc/22/4131.md?p=a-1), decide that a hearing should be open to others. Testimony at a hearing shall be given under oath, which any [Board](/usc/22/4102.md?p=2) member or individual designated by the [Board](/usc/22/4102.md?p=2) shall have [authority](/usc/22/4102.md?p=1) to administer.
- (3) Each party (including an [exclusive representative](/usc/22/4102.md?p=9) appearing in the proceedings) shall be entitled to examine and cross-examine witnesses at the hearing or by deposition and to serve interrogatories upon another party and have such interrogatories answered by the other party unless the [Board](/usc/22/4102.md?p=2) finds such interrogatory irrelevant, immaterial, or unduly repetitive. Upon request of the [Board](/usc/22/4102.md?p=2), or upon a request of the grievant deemed relevant and material by the [Board](/usc/22/4102.md?p=2), an [agency](/usc/22/3902.md?p=2) shall promptly make available at the hearing or by deposition any witness under its control, supervision, or responsibility, except that if the [Board](/usc/22/4102.md?p=2) determines that the presence of such witness at the hearing is required for just resolution of the [grievance](/usc/22/4131.md?p=a-1), then the witness shall be made available at the hearing, with necessary costs and travel expenses paid by the [Department](/usc/22/3902.md?p=4).
- (4) During any hearing held by the [Board](/usc/22/4102.md?p=2), any oral or documentary evidence may be received, but the [Board](/usc/22/4102.md?p=2) shall exclude any irrelevant, immaterial, or unduly repetitious evidence, as determined under [section 556 of title 5](/usc/5/556.md).
- (5) A verbatim transcript shall be made of any hearing and shall be part of the record of proceedings.
- (6) In those [grievances](/usc/22/4131.md?p=a-1) in which the [Board](/usc/22/4102.md?p=2) does not hold a hearing, the [Board](/usc/22/4102.md?p=2) shall afford to each party the opportunity to review and to supplement, by written submissions, the record of proceedings prior to the decision by the [Board](/usc/22/4102.md?p=2). The decision of the [Board](/usc/22/4102.md?p=2) shall be based exclusively on the record of proceedings.
- (7) The [Board](/usc/22/4102.md?p=2) may act by or through [panels](/usc/22/4102.md?p=13) or individual members designated by the Chairperson, except that hearings within the continental United States shall be held by [panels](/usc/22/4102.md?p=13) of at least three members unless the parties agree otherwise. References in this subchapter to the [Board](/usc/22/4102.md?p=2) shall be considered to be references to a [panel](/usc/22/4102.md?p=13) or member of the [Board](/usc/22/4102.md?p=2) where appropriate. All members of the [Board](/usc/22/4102.md?p=2) shall act as impartial individuals in considering [grievances](/usc/22/4131.md?p=a-1).
- (8) If the [Board](/usc/22/4102.md?p=2) determines that the [Department](/usc/22/3902.md?p=4) is considering the involuntary separation of the grievant (other than an involuntary separation for cause under [section 4010(a) of this title](/usc/22/4010.md?p=a)), disciplinary action against the grievant, or recovery from the grievant of alleged overpayment of salary, expenses, or allowances, which is related to a [grievance](/usc/22/4131.md?p=a-1) pending before the [Board](/usc/22/4102.md?p=2) and that such action should be suspended, the [Department](/usc/22/3902.md?p=4) shall suspend such action until the date which is one year after such determination or until the [Board](/usc/22/4102.md?p=2) has ruled upon the [grievance](/usc/22/4131.md?p=a-1), whichever comes first. The [Board](/usc/22/4102.md?p=2) shall extend the one-year limitation under the preceding sentence and the [Department](/usc/22/3902.md?p=4) shall continue to suspend such action, if the [Board](/usc/22/4102.md?p=2) determines that the [agency](/usc/22/3902.md?p=2) or the [Board](/usc/22/4102.md?p=2) is responsible for the delay in the resolution of the [grievance](/usc/22/4131.md?p=a-1). The [Board](/usc/22/4102.md?p=2) may also extend the 1-year limit if it determines that the delay is due to the complexity of the case, the unavailability of witnesses or to circumstances beyond the control of the [agency](/usc/22/3902.md?p=2), the [Board](/usc/22/4102.md?p=2) or the grievant. Notwithstanding such suspension of action, the head of the [agency](/usc/22/3902.md?p=2) concerned or a [chief of mission](/usc/22/3902.md?p=3) or [principal officer](/usc/22/3902.md?p=9) may exclude the grievant from official premises or from the performance of specified [functions](/usc/22/3902.md?p=6) when such exclusion is determined in writing to be essential to the functioning of the post or office to which the grievant is assigned.
- (9) The [Board](/usc/22/4102.md?p=2) may reconsider any decision upon presentation of newly discovered or previously unavailable material evidence.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, § 1106, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2145; Pub. L. 101–167, title V, § 586(a), Nov. 21, 1989, 103 Stat. 1252; Pub. L. 102–138, title I, § 143(b), Oct. 28, 1991, 105 Stat. 668; Pub. L. 103–236, title I, §§ 177(a), 181(a)(4)(B), Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 414, 417; Pub. L. 107–228, div. A, title III, § 314(b), Sept. 30, 2002, 116 Stat. 1379; Pub. L. 109–140, § 5, Dec. 22, 2005, 119 Stat. 2652.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2005—Par. (8). Pub. L. 109–140 inserted “the involuntary separation of the grievant (other than an involuntary separation for cause under section 4010(a) of this title),” after “considering” and substituted “the grievant, or” for “the grievant or”.

2002—Par. (8). Pub. L. 107–228, in first sentence, struck out “the involuntary separation of the grievant,” before “disciplinary action” and substituted “grievant or” for “grievant, or”, and struck out last sentence which read as follows: “Notwithstanding the first sentence of this paragraph, the Board’s authority to suspend such action shall not extend to instances where the Secretary, or his designee, has exercised his authority under subsection (a)(3) of section 4010 of this title or with respect to any action which would delay the separation of an employee pursuant to a reduction in force conducted under section 4010a of this title.”

1994—Par. (8). Pub. L. 103–236, § 181(a)(4)(B), inserted before period at end “or with respect to any action which would delay the separation of an employee pursuant to a reduction in force conducted under section 4010a of this title”.

Pub. L. 103–236, § 177(a), substituted “until the date which is one year after such determination or until the Board has ruled upon the grievance, whichever comes first. The Board shall extend the one-year limitation under the preceding sentence and the Department shall continue to suspend such action, if the Board determines that the agency or the Board is responsible for the delay in the resolution of the grievance. The Board may also extend the 1-year limit if it determines that the delay is due to the complexity of the case, the unavailability of witnesses or to circumstances beyond the control of the agency, the Board or the grievant.” for “until the Board has ruled upon the grievance.”

1991—Par. (8). Pub. L. 102–138 substituted “exercised his authority under subsection (a)(3) of section 4010 of this title” for “determined that there is reasonable cause to believe that a grievant has committed a job-related crime for which a sentence of imprisonment may be imposed and has taken action to suspend the grievant without pay pending a final resolution of the underlying matter”.

1989—Par. (8). Pub. L. 101–167 inserted at end “Notwithstanding the first sentence of this paragraph, the Board’s authority to suspend such action shall not extend to instances where the Secretary, or his designee, has determined that there is reasonable cause to believe that a grievant has committed a job-related crime for which a sentence of imprisonment may be imposed and has taken action to suspend the grievant without pay pending a final resolution of the underlying matter.”