Other Policies Also Would Mirror Civil Service

The measure further would repeal recertification requirements for Senior Foreign Service officers; a similar requirement for Senior Executive Service members was repealed several years ago. Also, the measure would make foreign service employees eligible for the same enhancements in recruitment, retention and relocation benefits enacted last year that took effect for the civil service on May 1. And it would allow the State Department to suspend without pay a member of the foreign service in cases where there is reasonable cause to believe that the employee has committed a crime for which he or she may be imprisoned and there is a connection to the efficiency of the service, a policy that also would mirror one applying to the civil service.