22 USC § 2658a - Foreign Affairs Manual and Foreign Affairs Handbook changes

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t22/s2658a"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "22 USC § 2658a - Foreign Affairs Manual and Foreign Affairs Handbook changes"
title_number: 22
title_name: "FOREIGN RELATIONS AND INTERCOURSE"
section_number: "2658a"
section_name: "Foreign Affairs Manual and Foreign Affairs Handbook changes"
chapter_number: 38
chapter_name: "DEPARTMENT OF STATE"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-03-26"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 117–81, div. E, title LIII, § 5318, Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2367; Pub. L. 119–60, div. E, title I, § 5178, Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1590.)"
---


# § 2658a. Foreign Affairs Manual and Foreign Affairs Handbook changes

**(a)** **Applicability** The Foreign Affairs Manual and the Foreign Affairs Handbook apply with equal force and effect and without exception to all Department of State personnel, including the Secretary of State, Department employees, and political appointees, regardless of an individual’s status as a Foreign Service officer, Civil Service employee, or political appointee hired under any legal authority.

**(b)** **Certification** December 27, 2021

Not later than 30 days after , the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a certification in unclassified form that the applicability described in subsection (a) has been communicated to all Department personnel, including the personnel referred to in such subsection.

**(c)** **Report**

**(1)** **In general** December 27, 2021

Not later than 180 days after , and every 180 days thereafter for 8 years, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report detailing all significant changes made to the Foreign Affairs Manual or the Foreign Affairs Handbook.

**(2)** **Covered periods** The first report required under paragraph (1) shall cover the 5-year period preceding the submission of such report. Each subsequent report shall cover the 180-day period preceding submission.

**(3)** **Contents** Each report required under paragraph (1) shall contain the following:

**(A)** The location within the Foreign Affairs Manual or the Foreign Affairs Handbook where a change has been made.

**(B)** The statutory basis for each such change, as applicable.

**(C)** A side-by-side comparison of the Foreign Affairs Manual or Foreign Affairs Handbook before and after such change.

**(D)** A summary of such changes displayed in spreadsheet form.

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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 117–81, div. E, title LIII, § 5318, Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2367; Pub. L. 119–60, div. E, title I, § 5178, Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1590.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2025—Subsec. (c)(1).  substituted “8 years” for “5 years”.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Definitions

For definition of “appropriate congressional committees” as used in this section, see , set out as a note under .