About the U.S. Department of State
The U.S. Department of State is focused on accomplishing America's mission of diplomacy at home and around the world. Here, you will learn more about how and where we perform this important work, our Foreign and Civil Service bureaus, as well as the details about our influential history.
Our Employees at Work
The men and women employed by the Department of State with their skills, character and commitment to public service, are the backbone of America's diplomacy. They represent the people and advocate the interests of the U.S. to the rest of the world.
The Foreign Service (FS) is a corps of about 12,000 employees who are dedicated to representing America and responding to the needs of American citizens in other countries. Members of the Foreign Service can be sent to any embassy, consulate, or other diplomatic mission anywhere in the world, at any time, to serve the diplomatic needs of the United States. Terms and conditions of employment in the Foreign Service (FS) are governed by the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as amended, 22 U.S.C.§3901 et seq.
While the Department of State's Foreign Service employees travel far and frequently, nearly 7,400 Civil Service (CS) employees serve as a stable resource pool in Washington D.C., at Passport Agencies and field offices throughout the United States, and at several Consulates in Mexico. Civil Service employees provide in-depth expertise and continuity in accomplishing all aspects of the Department's mission and are involved in virtually every function of the Department. Civil Service employees issue passports, compile and analyze overseas reports, provide logistical support to posts, consult with Congress about foreign policy initiatives and policies, and formulate and manage the budget. Unless specifically "excepted" by law, most of the Department's Civil Service employees are governed by Title 5 of the United States Code (5 U.S.C.) and Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations (5 CFR).
In addition, more than 31,000 Foreign Service National (FSN) employees also supplement the personnel requirements of the Department overseas. FSN employees are local residents of the countries in which we maintain diplomatic posts and consulates. They are valued members of our embassy teams, for they provide continuity for the transient American staff and have language and cultural expertise. FSN employment is also governed by the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as amended.
