The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2015

AFSA NEWS CALENDAR THE OFFICIAL RECORD OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION Assignment Restrictions Programs: A Discussion on Reform THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2015 69 July 1 12-2 p.m. AFSA Governing Board Meeting July 3 Independence Day: AFSA Offices Closed July 15 New AFSA Governing Board Takes Office July 30 12:45-2:00 p.m.. Luncheon: 138th Specialist Class August 5 12-2 p.m. AFSA Governing Board Meeting August 11 10-4 p.m. AFSA/Smithsonian Associates Program: “Inside the World of Diplomacy” September 2 9th Annual Adair Lecture at American University featuring Ambassador Johnny Young September 2 12-2 p.m. AFSA Governing Board Meeting September 7 Labor Day: AFSA Offices Closed September 20-24 AFSA Road Scholar Program Washington, D.C. More than 50 colleagues packed into an overflow- ing room on May 21 to learn about and offer feedback on the Department of State’s assignment restriction and pass-through programs, which govern how and when an employee’s security clear- ance may be restricted to preclude them from serving in certain countries or working on certain issues. These programs are driven by the department’s interest in protecting employ- ees from potential undue foreign influence. However, their execution often has undesirable effects on the lives and careers of Foreign Service employees (see the November 2014 AFSA News) . The event—sponsored by the American Foreign Service Association, the Asian- Americans in Foreign Affairs Association and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission—came on the heels of an exclusive May 13 briefing on the same issue for the Diversity Governance Council and Deputy Secretar- ies of State Antony Blinken and Heather Higginbottom. This second gathering brought together represen- tatives from the Bureaus of Diplomatic Security and Human Resources, the Office of Personnel Management’s Diversity and Outreach Office and theWhite House Initia- tive on Asian-Americans and obtaining the reasons for assignment restrictions is challenging because DS policy requires employees to submit Freedom of Informa- tion Act requests to release their information. For some, the event repre- sented their first opportunity to speak directly with DS and HR representatives. One officer said she found out she was not able to serve at post the very day she was supposed to fly out. Another reported that he underwent extensive training, only to be held at the Foreign Service Institute without explanation for over a year and then told he was no longer eligible to serve in his assigned country. A third explained how, due to her changed marital status, she was barred from serving Pacific Islanders. AFSA State Vice President Matthew Asada, EEOC Associ- ate Director Dexter Brooks and AAFAA President Tom Wong led the conversation. While all three supported DS’s ability to apply height- ened security screening, they urged that improvements be made to the current system (e.g., creating robust appeal mechanisms and making information regarding the basis for restriction decisions available to employees). The three expressed a willingness to work with the department to find constructive solutions. Foreign Service attendees of diverse national origin spoke up about the lack of transparency in the process. Many said the department never bothered to notify them of their preclusion. Further, AFSA/MARIAC.LIVINGSTON Continued on page 83 Foreign Service members packed into the Marshall Center briefing room listen to colleagues’ personal experiences with the assignment restriction and pass-through programs. At table, from left: AAFAA President Tom Wong, AFSA State Vice President Matthew Asada and AFSA Staff Attorney Andrew Large.