U.S. Code » Title 22 » Chapter CHAPTER 52— FOREIGN SERVICE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER XI— GRIEVANCES

22 U.S.C. § 4134

Time limitations

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(a) Limitations period

A grievance is forever barred under this subchapter unless it is filed with the Department not later than two years after the occurrence giving rise to the grievance or, in the case of a grievance with respect to the grievant’s rater or reviewer, one year after the date on which the grievant ceased to be subject to rating or review by that person, but in no case more than three years after the occurrence giving rise to the grievance. There shall be excluded from the computation of any such period any time during which, as determined by the Foreign Service Grievance Board, the grievant was unaware of the grounds for the grievance and could not have discovered such grounds through reasonable diligence.

(b) Failure of Department to resolve grievance; grievance filed with Foreign Service Grievance Board

If a grievance is not resolved under Department procedures (which have been negotiated with the exclusive representative, if any) within ninety days after it is filed with the Department, the grievant or the exclusive representative (on behalf of a grievant who is a member of the bargaining unit) shall be entitled to file a grievance with the Foreign Service Grievance Board for its consideration and resolution.

(c) Grievances based on alleged discrimination(1) In applying subsection (a) with respect to an alleged violation of a law, rule, regulation, or policy directive referred to in section 4131(a)(1)(H) of this title, the reference to “2 years” shall be deemed to read “180 days”, subject to paragraph (2).(2) If the occurrence or occurrences giving rise to the grievance are alleged to have occurred while the grievant was assigned to a post abroad, the 180-day period provided for under paragraph (1) shall not commence until the earlier of—(A) the date as of which the grievant is no longer assigned to such post; or(B) the expiration of the 18-month period beginning on the date of the occurrence giving rise to the grievance or the last such occurrence, as the case may be.(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, § 1104, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2144; Pub. L. 102–138, title I, § 153(b), Oct. 28, 1991, 105 Stat. 673; Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(7) [div. A, title III, § 330(a), (b)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–438; Pub. L. 107–228, div. A, title III, § 317, Sept. 30, 2002, 116 Stat. 1379.)Editorial NotesAmendments

2002—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 107–228 substituted “but in no case more than three years” for “but in no case less than two years”.

1999—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 106–113, § 1000(a)(7) [div. A, title III, § 330(a)], in first sentence, substituted “not later than two years after the occurrence giving rise to the grievance or, in the case of a grievance with respect to the grievant’s rater or reviewer, one year after the date on which the grievant ceased to be subject to rating or review by that person, but in no case less than two years after the occurrence giving rise to the grievance.” for “within a period of 3 years after the occurrence or occurrences giving rise to the grievance or such shorter period as may be agreed to by the Department and the exclusive representative.”

Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 106–113, § 1000(a)(7) [div. A, title III, § 330(b)], substituted “ ‘2 years’ ” for “ ‘3 years’ ”.

1991—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–138, § 153(b)(1), inserted “under this subchapter” before “unless”.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 102–138, § 153(b)(2), added subsec. (c).

Statutory Notes and Related SubsidiariesEffective Date of 1999 Amendment

Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(7) [div. A, title III, § 330(c)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–438, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall take effect 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Nov. 29, 1999] and shall apply to grievances which arise on or after such effective date.”

Effective Date of 1991 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 102–138 not applicable with respect to any grievance, within the meaning of section 4131 of this title, arising before Oct. 28, 1991, see section 153(f) of Pub. L. 102–138, set out as a note under section 4115 of this title.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 11 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1990–2025 · leading case: Shea, William E. v. Rice, Condoleezza, 409 F.3d 448 (D.C. Cir. 2005).
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Shea, William E. v. Rice, Condoleezza, 409 F.3d 448 (D.C. Cir. 2005). · cites it 3× “See 22 U.S.C. § 4134 (a). When the State Department failed to act on his discrimination claims within 90 days, Shea filed his grievance with the Foreign Service Grievance Board (Board).”
J.D. Hamilton v. 1st Source Bank, 928 F.2d 86 (4th Cir. 1990). “§ 55 (b) (filing period runs from “the date on which the United States first knew or should reasonably have known that the prohibited conduct had occurred”); 22 U.S.C. § 4134 (a) (excluding from the filing period “any time during which .”
Bettucci v. United States, 14 F. Supp. 2d 45 (D.D.C. 1998). · cites it 4× “In light of the statutory time limitations for filing grievances contained in section 1104(a) of the Foreign Service Act, 22 U.S.C. § 4134 , and the large quantity of disparate material presented to the Board, the Board requested a pre-hearing meeting of the parties on February…”
Ackerman v. United States, 324 F. Supp. 2d 1 (D.D.C. 2004). “22 U.S.C. § 4134 . Finally, if the FSGB denies the grievance, an aggrieved party may obtain judicial review of the FSGB’s final decision in a United States District Court, which reviews the FSGB’s decision under the standards set forth under the APA, 5 U.”
Gonzalez v. U.S. Dep't of State, 135 F. Supp. 2d 193 (D.D.C. 2001). “22 U.S.C. § 4134 . The decision of the FSGB constitutes a final agency action for purposes of judicial review under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), 5 U.”
Kelly v. United States, 34 F. Supp. 2d 8 (D.D.C. 1998). “Within the applicable three-year statute of limitations, however, see 22 U.S.C. § 4134 (a), Lovaas wrote a detailed letter to the Board that indicated his intent to add his 1993-LCE denial to his grievance.”
Shea v. Rice, 587 F. Supp. 2d 166 (D.D.C. 2008). “Analysis Under 22 U.S.C. §§ 4134 (a) & (c)(1) an individual has 180 days from an act of alleged discrimination to file a grievance with the Foreign Service Grievance Board.”
Fritch v. U.S. Dep't of State (D.D.C. 2018). · cites it 2× “’s Reply at 11. Drawing a parallel to the statute at issue in North Carolina v.”
Fritch v. U.S. Dep't of State, 302 F. Supp. 3d 95 (D.C. Cir. 2018). · cites it 2× “Drawing a parallel to the statute at issue in North Carolina v.”
Gregory v. Toler Appraisal Grp., LLC (S.D.W. Va 2023). “§ 55 (b) (filing period runs from “the date on which the United States first knew or should reasonably have known that the prohibited conduct had occurred”); 22 U.S.C. § 4134 (a) (excluding from the filing period “any time during which .”
Reiff v. United States (D.D.C. 2025). “See 22 U.S.C. §§ 4134–39. Once the Board came to a decision on appeal, the decision would be final and, at that point, subject to judicial review by the district court under the “standards set forth” in the Administrative Procedure Act.”
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