CLEARANCE SUSPENSIONS.

SEC. 415. SECURITY CLEARANCE SUSPENSIONS.(a) In General.—Section 610 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4010) is amended—(1) by striking the section heading and inserting the following: “separation for cause; suspension”; and(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:“(c)(1) In order to promote the efficiency of the Service, the Secretary may suspend a member of the Service when—“(A) the member’s security clearance is suspended; or“(B) there is reasonable cause to believe that the member has committed a crime for which a sentence of imprisonment may be imposed.“(2) Any member of the Service for whom a suspension is proposed under this subsection shall be entitled to—“(A) written notice stating the specific reasons for the proposed suspension;“(B) a reasonable time to respond orally and in writing to the proposed suspension;“(C) obtain at such member’s own expense representation by an attorney or other representative; and“(D) a final written decision, including the specific reasons for such decision, as soon as practicable.“(3) Any member suspended under this subsection may file a grievance in accordance with the procedures applicable to grievances under chapter 11 of title I.“(4) If a grievance is filed pursuant to paragraph (3)—“(A) the review by the Foreign Service Grievance Board shall be limited to a determination of whether the provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) have been fulfilled; and“(B) the Board may not exercise the authority provided under section 1106(8).“(5) In this subsection:“(A) The term ‘reasonable time’ means—“(i) with respect to a member of the Service assigned to duty in the United States, 15 days after receiving notice of the proposed suspension; and“(ii) with respect to a member of the Service assigned to duty outside the United States, 30 days after receiving notice of the proposed suspension.“(B) The terms ‘suspend’ and ‘suspension’ mean placing a member of the Foreign Service in a temporary status without duties.”.(b) Clerical Amendment.—The table of contents in section 2 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 is amended by striking the item relating to section 610 and inserting the following new item: “Sec. 610. Separation for cause; Suspension.”. 130 STAT. 1934