REP LIEU BILL TO PREVENT STATE DEPARTMENT FROM DISCRIMINATING AGAINST EMPLOYEES PASSES HOUSE AND SENATE

WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu issued the following statement after the House and Senate passed his bill, the Accountability in Assignment Restrictions and Reviews Act, as a part of this year’s National Defense Authorization Act. Congressman Lieu’s bill builds on his previous legislation passed in the FY22 NDAA that focused on creating an independent appeals process and more transparency around State Department employees who are subjected to assignment restrictions. This year’s legislation addresses potential loopholes that enabled the State Department to use assignment reviews, also known as pass-throughs, as a way to skirt the transparency and independent review processes established in the FY22 bill.

The Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS) can impose Assignment Restrictions on some employees who otherwise hold Top Secret clearances, precluding them from serving in a particular country or working on issues related to that country in Washington. These restrictions had sometimes been discriminatory, biased, and counterproductive to the goals of diversity, inclusion, and retention of talent at the State Department. Earlier this year, Secretary of State Antony Blinken committed to ending the assignment restrictions policy at the State Department.

“I appreciate that this Administration committed to ending the practice of assignment restrictions at the State Department as it helps to demonstrate our government’s commitment to diversity and inclusion,” Rep. Lieu said. “At the same time, we cannot allow the State Department to use loopholes to effectively do the same thing that assignment restrictions did under a different authority. It is important for the State Department to maintain a level of fairness and transparency in its assignment reviews process so that we can end practices that disproportionately impact employees who can't trace their heritage to the Mayflower. Our country’s diversity is its strength both here and abroad. Many employees who were subjected to assignment restrictions possess invaluable language and cultural competencies that would strengthen America’s diplomatic arm. I’m pleased that soon President Biden will sign this piece of legislation into law, thereby reaffirming our shared commitment to inclusivity and diversity.”

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