22 U.S.C. § 4865 (FOREIGN RELATIONS AND INTERCOURSE)
§ 4865. Security requirements for United States diplomatic facilities
(a) In general
The following security requirements shall apply with respect to United States diplomatic facilities and specified personnel:
(1) Threat assessment
(A) Emergency Action Plan
The Emergency Action Plan (EAP) of each United States mission shall address a range of threats, including that of large explosive attacks from vehicles and from complex attacks (as such term is defined in section 4866 of this title), and the safety of employees during such an explosive attack or such a complex attack. Such plan shall be reviewed and updated annually.
(B) Security Environment Threat List
The Security Environment Threat List shall contain a section that addresses potential acts of international terrorism against United States diplomatic facilities based on threat identification criteria that emphasize the threat of transnational terrorism and include the local security environment, host government support, and other relevant factors such as cultural realities. Such plan shall be reviewed and updated every six months.
(2) Site selection
(A) In general
In selecting a site for any new United States diplomatic facility abroad in a location that has certain minimum ratings under the Security Environment Threat List as determined by the Secretary in his or her discretion, the Secretary shall ensure that all United States Government personnel at the post (except those under the command of an area military commander, personnel of the Peace Corps, and personnel of any other type or category of facility that the Secretary may identify) will be located on the site.
(B) Waiver authority
(i) In general
Subject to clause (ii), the Secretary of State may waive subparagraph (A) if the Secretary, in consultation with, as appropriate, the head of each agency employing personnel that would not be located at the site, if applicable, determines that it is in the national interest of the United States after taking account of any considerations the Secretary in his or her discretion considers relevant, which may include security conditions.
(ii) Chancery or consulate building
Prior to implementing the waiver authority under clause (i) with respect to a chancery or consulate building, the Secretary shall notify the appropriate congressional committees in writing of the waiver and the reasons for the determination.
(iii) Report to Congress
The Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees an annual report of all waivers under this subparagraph.
(3) Perimeter distance
(A) Requirement
(i) In general
Each newly acquired United States diplomatic facility in a location that has certain minimum ratings under the Security Environment Threat List as determined by the Secretary of State in his or her discretion shall—
(I) be constructed or modified to meet the measured building blast performance standard applicable to a diplomatic facility sited not less than 100 feet from the perimeter of the property on which the facility is situated; or
(II) fulfill the criteria described in clause (ii).
(ii) Alternative engineering equivalency standard requirement
Each facility referred to in clause (i) may, instead of meeting the requirement under such clause, fulfill such other criteria as the Secretary is authorized to employ to achieve an engineering standard of security and degree of protection that is equivalent to the numerical perimeter distance setback described in such clause seeks to achieve.
(B) Waiver authority
(i) In general
Subject to clause (ii), the Secretary of State may waive subparagraph (A) if the Secretary determines that it is in the national interest of the United States after taking account of any considerations the Secretary in his or her discretion considers relevant, which may include security conditions.
(ii) Chancery or consulate building
Prior to implementing the waiver authority under subparagraph (A) with respect to a chancery or consulate building, the Secretary shall notify the appropriate congressional committees in writing of the waiver and the reasons for the determination.
(iii) Report to Congress
The Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a quarterly report of all waivers under this subparagraph.
(4) Crisis management training
(A) Training of headquarters staff
The appropriate personnel of the Department of State headquarters staff shall undertake crisis management training for mass casualty and mass destruction incidents relating to diplomatic facilities for the purpose of bringing about a rapid response to such incidents from Department of State headquarters in Washington, D.C.
(B) Training of personnel abroad
A program of appropriate instruction in crisis management shall be provided to personnel at United States diplomatic facilities abroad at least on an annual basis.
(5) Diplomatic security training
Not later than six months after November 29, 1999, the Secretary of State shall—
(A) develop annual physical fitness standards for all diplomatic security agents to ensure that the agents are prepared to carry out all of their official responsibilities; and
(B) provide for an independent evaluation by an outside entity of the overall adequacy of current new agent, in-service, and management training programs to prepare agents to carry out the full scope of diplomatic security responsibilities, including preventing attacks on United States personnel and facilities.
(6) State Department support
(A) Foreign Emergency Support Team
The Foreign Emergency Support Team (FEST) of the Department of State shall receive sufficient support from the Department, including—
(i) conducting routine training exercises of the FEST;
(ii) providing personnel identified to serve on the FEST as a collateral duty;
(iii) providing personnel to assist in activities such as security, medical relief, public affairs, engineering, and building safety; and
(iv) providing such additional support as may be necessary to enable the FEST to provide support in a post-crisis environment involving mass casualties and physical damage.
(B) FEST aircraft
(i) Replacement aircraft
The President shall develop a plan to replace on a priority basis the current FEST aircraft funded by the Department of Defense with a dedicated, capable, and reliable replacement aircraft and backup aircraft to be operated and maintained by the Department of Defense.
(ii) Report
Not later than 60 days after November 29, 1999, the President shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees describing the aircraft selected pursuant to clause (i) and the arrangements for the funding, operation, and maintenance of such aircraft.
(iii) Authority to lease aircraft to respond to a terrorist attack abroad
Subject to the availability of appropriations, when the Attorney General of the Department of Justice exercises the Attorney General’s authority to lease commercial aircraft to transport equipment and personnel in response to a terrorist attack abroad if there have been reasonable efforts to obtain appropriate Department of Defense aircraft and such aircraft are unavailable, the Attorney General shall have the authority to obtain indemnification insurance or guarantees if necessary and appropriate.
(7) Rapid response procedures
The Secretary of State shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Secretary of Defense setting out rapid response procedures for mobilization of personnel and equipment of their respective departments to provide more effective assistance in times of emergency with respect to United States diplomatic facilities, including at high risk, high threat posts (as such term is defined in section 4803 of this title), including options for the deployment of additional military personnel or equipment to bolster security and rapid deployment of armed or surveillance assets in response to an attack.
(8) Storage of emergency equipment and records
All United States diplomatic facilities shall have emergency equipment and records required in case of an emergency situation stored at an off-site facility.
(b) Statutory construction
Nothing in this section alters or amends existing security requirements not addressed by this section.
(Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(7) [div. A, title VI, § 606], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–454; Pub. L. 114–323, title I, § 102, Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1909; Pub. L. 117–263, div. I, title XCIII, § 9301(e)(2), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3881.)
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: Codification
text: Section was enacted as part of the Secure Embassy Construction and Counterterrorism Act of 1999, and also as part of the Admiral James W. Nance and Meg Donovan Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 2000 and 2001, and not as part of the Diplomatic Security Act which comprises this chapter.
heading: Amendments
text: 2022—Subsec. (a)(1)(A). Pub. L. 117–263, § 9301(e)(2)(A), substituted “a range of threats, including that” for “the threat”.
Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Pub. L. 117–263, § 9301(e)(2)(B)(i), inserted “in a location that has certain minimum ratings under the Security Environment Threat List as determined by the Secretary in his or her discretion” after “abroad” and “, personnel of the Peace Corps, and personnel of any other type or category of facility that the Secretary may identify” after “military commander”.
Subsec. (a)(2)(B)(i). Pub. L. 117–263, § 9301(e)(2)(B)(ii)(I), amended cl. (i) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Subject to clause (ii), the Secretary of State may waive subparagraph (A) if the Secretary, together with the head of each agency employing personnel that would not be located at the site, determine that security considerations permit and it is in the national interest of the United States.”
Subsec. (a)(2)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 117–263, § 9301(e)(2)(B)(ii)(II), substituted “Prior” for subcl. (I), subcl. (II) designation and heading, and “Not less than 15 days prior”. Prior to amendment, text of subcl. (I) read as follows: “The Secretary may not delegate the waiver authority under clause (i) with respect to a chancery or consulate building.”
Subsec. (a)(3)(A). Pub. L. 117–263, § 9301(e)(2)(C)(i), amended subpar. (A) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Each newly acquired United States diplomatic facility shall be sited not less than 100 feet from the perimeter of the property on which the facility is to be situated.”
Subsec. (a)(3)(B)(i). Pub. L. 117–263, § 9301(e)(2)(C)(ii)(I), struck out “security considerations permit and” after “if the Secretary determines that” and inserted “after taking account of any considerations the Secretary in his or her discretion considers relevant, which may include security conditions” after “national interest of the United States”.
Subsec. (a)(3)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 117–263, § 9301(e)(2)(C)(ii)(II), substituted “Prior” for subcl. (I), subcl. (II) designation and heading, and “Not less than 15 days prior”. Prior to amendment, text of subcl. (I) read as follows: “The Secretary may not delegate the waiver authority under clause (i) with respect to a chancery or consulate building.”
Subsec. (a)(3)(B)(iii). Pub. L. 117–263, § 9301(e)(2)(C)(ii)(III), substituted “a quarterly” for “an annual”.
2016—Subsec. (a)(1)(A). Pub. L. 114–323, § 102(1), inserted “and from complex attacks (as such term is defined in section 4866 of this title),” after “attacks from vehicles” and “or such a complex attack” after “an explosive attack”.
Subsec. (a)(7). Pub. L. 114–323, § 102(2), inserted before period at end “, including at high risk, high threat posts (as such term is defined in section 4803 of this title), including options for the deployment of additional military personnel or equipment to bolster security and rapid deployment of armed or surveillance assets in response to an attack”.
heading: Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
heading: Inclusion of Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities in United States Diplomatic Facilities in Cuba
text: Pub. L. 114–113, div. M, title V, § 513, Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 2926, provided that:
“(a) Restricted Access Space Requirement.—
Each United States diplomatic facility in Cuba in which classified information will be processed or in which classified communications occur that, after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 18, 2015], is constructed or undergoes a major construction upgrade shall be constructed to include a sensitive compartmented information facility.
“(b) National Security Waiver.—
The Secretary of State may waive the requirement under subsection (a) if the Secretary—
“(1) determines that such waiver is in the national security interest of the United States; and
“(2) submits a written justification for such waiver to the appropriate congressional committees not later than 90 days before exercising such waiver.
“(c) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.—
In this section, the term ‘appropriate congressional committees’ means—
“(1) the congressional intelligence committees [Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate and Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives];
“(2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
“(3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.”
heading: Inclusion of Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities in United States Diplomatic Facilities in the Russian Federation and Adjacent Countries
text: Pub. L. 113–293, title III, § 314, Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 4002, provided that:
“(a) Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility Requirement.—
Each United States diplomatic facility that, after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 19, 2014], is constructed in, or undergoes a construction upgrade in, the Russian Federation, any country that shares a land border with the Russian Federation, or any country that is a former member of the Soviet Union shall be constructed to include a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility.
“(b) National Security Waiver.—
The Secretary of State may waive the requirement under subsection (a) if the Secretary determines that such waiver is in the national security interest of the United States and submits a written justification to the appropriate congressional committees not later than 180 days before exercising such waiver.
“(c) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.—
In this section, the term ‘appropriate congressional committees’ means—
“(1) the congressional intelligence committees [Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate and Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives];
“(2) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign Relations, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
“(3) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.”
heading: Capital Security Cost Sharing
text: Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title III, § 357, Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2163, as amended by Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title X, § 1051(l), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1564, provided that:
“(a) Reconciliation Required.—
For each fiscal year, the Secretary of Defense shall reconcile (1) the estimate of overseas presence of the Secretary of Defense under subsection (b) for that fiscal year, with (2) the determination of the Secretary of State under section 604(e)(1) of the Secure Embassy Construction and Counterterrorism Act of 1999 [Pub. L. 106–113] (22 U.S.C. 4865 note) of the total overseas presence of the Department of Defense for that fiscal year.
“(b) Annual Estimate of Overseas Presence.—
Not later than February 1 of each year, the Secretary of Defense shall prepare an estimate of the total number of Department of Defense overseas personnel subject to chief of mission authority pursuant to section 207 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3927) during the fiscal year that begins on October 1 of that year.”
heading: Findings
text: Pub. L. 117–263, div. I, title XCIII, § 9301(b), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3879, provided that:
“Congress makes the following findings:
“(1) The Secure Embassy Construction and Counterterrorism Act of 1999 (title VI of division A of appendix G of Public Law 106–113 [113 Stat. 1501A–451]) was a necessary response to bombings on August 7, 1998, at the United States embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, that were destroyed by simultaneously exploding bombs. The resulting explosions killed 220 persons and injured more than 4,000 others. Twelve Americans and 40 Kenyan and Tanzanian employees of the United States Foreign Service were killed in the attacks.
“(2) Those bombings, followed by the expeditionary diplomatic efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, demonstrated the need to prioritize the security of United States posts and personnel abroad above other considerations.
“(3) Between 1999 and 2022, the risk calculus of the Department [of State] impacted the ability of United States diplomats around the world to advance the interests of the United States through access to local populations, leaders, and places.
“(4) America’s competitors and adversaries do not have the same restrictions that United States diplomats have, especially in critically important medium-threat and high-threat posts.
“(5) The Department’s 2021 Overseas Security Panel report states that—
“(A) the requirement for setback and collocation of diplomatic posts under paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 606(a) of the Secure Embassy Construction and Counterterrorism Act of 1999 (22 U.S.C. 4865(a)) has led to skyrocketing costs of new embassies and consulates; and
“(B) the locations of such posts have become less desirable, creating an extremely suboptimal nexus that further hinders United States diplomats who are willing to accept more risk in order to advance United States interests.”
Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(7) [div. A, title VI, § 602], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–451, provided that:
“Congress makes the following findings:
“(1) On August 7, 1998, the United States embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, were destroyed by simultaneously exploding bombs. The resulting explosions killed 220 persons and injured more than 4,000 others. Twelve Americans and 40 Kenyan and Tanzanian employees of the United States Foreign Service were killed in the attack.
“(2) The United States personnel in both Dar es Salaam and Nairobi showed leadership and personal courage in their response to the attacks. Despite the havoc wreaked upon the embassies, staff in both embassies provided rapid response in locating and rescuing victims, providing emergency assistance, and quickly restoring embassy operations during a crisis.
“(3) The bombs are believed to have been set by individuals associated with Osama bin Laden, leader of a known transnational terrorist organization. In February 1998, bin Laden issued a directive to his followers that called for attacks against United States interests anywhere in the world.
“(4) Threats continue to be made against United States diplomatic facilities.
“(5) Accountability Review Boards were convened following the bombings, as required by Public Law 99–399 [see Tables for classification], chaired by Admiral William J. Crowe, United States Navy (Ret.) (in this section referred to as the ‘Crowe panels’).
“(6) The conclusions of the Crowe panels were strikingly similar to those stated by the Commission chaired by Admiral Bobby Ray Inman, which issued an extensive embassy security report in 1985.
“(7) The Crowe panels issued a report setting out many problems with security at United States diplomatic facilities, in particular the following:
“(A) The United States Government has devoted inadequate resources to security against terrorist attacks.
“(B) The United States Government places too low a priority on security concerns.
“(8) The result has been a failure to take adequate steps to prevent tragedies such as the bombings in Kenya and Tanzania.
“(9) The Crowe panels found that there was an institutional failure on the part of the Department of State to recognize threats posed by transnational terrorism and vehicular bombs.
“(10) Responsibility for ensuring adequate resources for security programs is widely shared throughout the United States Government, including Congress. Unless the vulnerabilities identified by the Crowe panels are addressed in a sustained and financially realistic manner, the lives and safety of United States employees in diplomatic facilities will continue to be at risk from further terrorist attacks.
“(11) Although service in the Foreign Service or other United States Government positions abroad can never be completely without risk, the United States Government must take all reasonable steps to minimize security risks.”
heading: Authorizations of Appropriations
text: Pub. L. 117–263, div. I, title XCVIII, § 9801, Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3923, provided that: “For the purposes of calculating the costs of providing new United States diplomatic facilities in any fiscal year, in accordance with section 604(e) of the Secure Embassy Construction and Counterterrorism Act of 1999 (22 U.S.C. 4865 note), the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, shall determine the annual program level and agency shares for such fiscal year in a manner that is proportional to the contribution of the Department of State for this purpose.”
Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(7) [div. A, title VI, § 604], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–453, as amended by Pub. L. 107–228, div. A, title I, § 111(a)(3)(B), Sept. 30, 2002, 116 Stat. 1356; Pub. L. 108–447, div. B, title VI, § 629, Dec. 8, 2004, 118 Stat. 2920; Pub. L. 112–74, div. I, title VII, § 7004(e), Dec. 23, 2011, 125 Stat. 1194; Pub. L. 114–323, title I, § 111(b), Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1910, provided that:
“(a) Authorization of Appropriations.—
In addition to amounts otherwise authorized to be appropriated by this or any other Act, there are authorized to be appropriated for ‘Embassy Security, Construction and Maintenance’—
“(1) for fiscal year 2000, $900,000,000;
“(2) for fiscal year 2001, $900,000,000;
“(3) for fiscal year 2002, $900,000,000;
“(4) for fiscal year 2003, $1,000,000,000; and
“(5) for fiscal year 2004, $900,000,000.
“(b) Purposes.—
Funds made available under the ‘Embassy Security, Construction, and Maintenance’ account may be used only for the purposes of—
“(1) the acquisition of United States diplomatic facilities and, if necessary, any residences or other structures located in close physical proximity to such facilities, or
“(2) the provision of major security enhancements to United States diplomatic facilities,
to the extent necessary to bring the United States Government into compliance with all requirements applicable to the security of United States diplomatic facilities, including the relevant requirements set forth in section 606 [22 U.S.C. 4865].
“(c) Availability of Authorizations.—
Authorizations of appropriations under subsection (a) shall remain available until the appropriations are made.
“(d) Availability of Funds.—
Amounts appropriated pursuant to subsection (a) are authorized to remain available until expended.
“(e) Capital Security Cost Sharing.—
“(1) Authority.—
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all agencies with personnel overseas subject to chief of mission authority pursuant to section 207 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3927) shall participate and provide funding in advance for their share of costs of providing, maintaining, repairing, and renovating safe, secure United States diplomatic facilities, without offsets, on the basis of the total overseas presence of each agency as determined annually by the Secretary of State in consultation with such agency. Amounts advanced by such agencies to the Department of State shall be credited to the Embassy Security, Construction and Maintenance account, and remain available until expended.
“(2) Implementation.—
Implementation of this subsection shall be carried out in a manner that encourages right-sizing of each agency’s overseas presence. A project to construct a diplomatic facility of the United States may not include office space or other accommodations for an employee of a Federal department or agency to the extent that the Secretary of State determines that such department or agency has not provided to the Department of State the full amount of funding required under paragraph (1), notwithstanding any authorization and appropriation of relevant funds by Congress.
“(3) Exclusion.—
For purposes of this subsection ‘agency’ does not include the Marine Security Guard.”
heading: Obligations and Expenditures
text: Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(7) [div. A, title VI, § 605], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–453, as amended by Pub. L. 112–74, div. I, title VII, § 7034(n), Dec. 23, 2011, 125 Stat. 1217, provided that:
“(a) Report and Priority of Obligations.—
“(1) Report.—
Not later than February 1 of the year 2000 and each of the four subsequent years, the Secretary of State shall submit a classified report to the appropriate congressional committees identifying each diplomatic facility or each diplomatic or consular post composed of such facilities that is a priority for replacement or for any major security enhancement because of its vulnerability to terrorist attack (by reason of the terrorist threat and the current condition of the facility). The report shall list such facilities in groups of 20. The groups shall be ranked in order from most vulnerable to least vulnerable to such an attack.
“(2) Priority on use of funds.—
“(A) In general.—
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), funds authorized to be appropriated by section 604 [set out as a note above] for a particular project may be used only for those facilities which are listed in the first four groups described in paragraph (1).
“(B) Exception.—
Funds authorized to be made available by section 604 may only be used for facilities which are not in the first 4 groups described in paragraph (1), if the Congress authorizes or appropriates funds for such a diplomatic facility or the Secretary of State notifies the appropriate congressional committees that such funds will be used for a facility in accordance with the procedures applicable to a reprogramming of funds under section 34(a) of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2706(a)).
“(b) Prohibition on Transfer of Funds.—
None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by section 604 may be transferred to any other account.”
heading: Definitions
text: For definitions of the terms “Secretary” and “appropriate congressional committees” used in this section and in section 1000(a)(7) [div. A, title VI, § 605] of Pub. L. 106–113, set out as a note above, see section 1000(a)(7) [§ 3] of Pub. L. 106–113, set out as a note under section 2651 of this title.
Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(7) [div. A, title VI, § 603], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–452, as amended by Pub. L. 117–263, div. I, title XCIII, § 9301(d), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3880, provided that:
“In this title [enacting this section, amending section 4831 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes above], the terms ‘United States diplomatic facility’ and ‘diplomatic facility’ mean any chancery, consulate, or other office that—
“(1) is considered by the Secretary of State to be diplomatic or consular premises, consistent with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, done at Vienna April 18, 1961, and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, done at Vienna April 24, 1963, and was notified to the host government as such; or
“(2) is otherwise subject to a publicly available bilateral agreement with the host government (contained in the records of the United States Department of State) that recognizes the official status of the United States Government personnel present at the facility.”
heading: Executive Documents
heading: Delegation of Authority
text: Memorandum of President of the United States, July 17, 2000, 65 F.R. 45511, provided:
Memorandum for the Secretary of Defense
By the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, I hereby delegate to the Secretary of Defense the responsibility of the President, under section 606 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 2000 and 2001 (Public Law 106–113) [22 U.S.C. 4865], to submit the required report to the Congress.
You are hereby authorized and directed to publish this delegation in the Federal Register.
William J. Clinton.