PUBLIC FACING webSITES
(CT:PEC-98; 09-02-2026)
(Office of Origin: GPA/DIG/PLT)
10 FAM 361 Public-Facing Websites
(CT:PEC-98; 09-02-2026)
10 FAM 361.1 Definitions
(CT:PEC-98; 09-02-2026)
The Department of State manages numerous public-facing websites across different web platforms. These websites are critical to articulating the work of the U.S. Government to American and foreign audiences.
A "public-facing website" is a website for which the public is the primary intended audience. This may include websites that require a login. Classified sites, intranet sites, or other sites not intended for use by the public are not "public-facing websites."
Department public-facing websites include, but are not limited to, State.gov; other public-facing sites that use state.gov with a subdomain (e.g., travel.state.gov); share.america.gov; brand.america.gov; and public-facing Mission sites that use usembassy.gov, usconsulate.gov, or usmission.gov.
10 FAM 361.2 Web Governance
(CT:PEC-98; 09-02-2026)
Per 1 FAM 323.4-2, Global Public Affairs Bureau's Office of Platforms (GPA/DIG/PLT) leads Department public-facing website governance and advances digital experience governance within the Department.
GPA/DIG/PLT may convene a Department web council periodically for broader website policy creation, management, and response to data calls.
10 FAM 361.3 Authorities
(CT:PEC-98; 09-02-2026)
Authorities for these policies include:
a. 1 FAM 323.4-2; Description of Global Public Affairs Office of Platforms;
b. 21st Century Integrated Digital Experience Act ("21st Century IDEA"), Public Law 115-336 (2018);
c. OMB Memorandum M-23-22, Delivering a Digital-First Public Experience;
d. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Public Law 93-112; and
e. Copyright Act of 1976, Public Law 94-553.
10 FAM 362 REQUIREMENTS
(CT:PEC-98; 09-02-2026)
10 FAM 362.1 Website Management
(CT:PEC-98; 09-02-2026)
a. State Department public-facing websites are required to help achieve organizational strategic goals and comply with all federal and Department policies. These sites need continuous oversight and resources for effective management and maintenance. When considering the creation of a new public-facing website, offices should prepare for ongoing support and long-term resource planning.
b. Before beginning work on a new Department public-facing website, consult with GPA/DIG/PLT to evaluate whether an existing Department public-facing website or section thereof may better meet the mission need.
c. A bureau or office is responsible for decommissioning any Department public-facing sites it owns that are no longer needed and consulting with the Bureau of Diplomatic Technology (DT) to ensure all proper steps are followed.
10 FAM 362.2 Domain Names
(CT:PEC-98; 09-02-2026)
State Department public-facing websites must use .gov domains. GPA/DIG/PLT approves Department public-facing website domain names, and DT establishes and tracks them. Before requesting a new website domain name, consult GPA/DIG/PLT. With GPA's concurrence, submit a “Domain and Sub-domain DNS Request” form via the ServiceNow (or successor) portal.
10 FAM 362.3 Content
(CT:PEC-98; 09-02-2026)
Department personnel are responsible for content they publish on Department public-facing websites. As such, they must:
a. Obtain all necessary clearances for content according to current Department procedures before releasing information to the public.
b. Follow content and security policies outlined in 5 FAM 776.3, Web Site Development: Content. Never publish Classified or Sensitive But Unclassified content on public-facing Department sites. For more about SBU content, refer to 12 FAM 540, Sensitive but Classified Information (SBU).
c. Refrain from promoting personal businesses or expressing personal viewpoints.
d. Make it clear through both tone and substance that all content is official from the Department of State.
e. Ensure content is authoritative and easy to understand by using plain language.
f. Make sure all content complies with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, guaranteeing accessibility for individuals with disabilities. More details can be found in 5 FAM 776.4, Design Standards for People with Disabilities.
g. Protect the privacy of personal information. For more information, see 5 FAM 772, Privacy Principles for Federal Websites.
h. Utilize the State Department Brand System available at brand.america.gov.
i. For any content considered a "public communication" as defined in 3 FAM 4173, also follow the content policies detailed in 3 FAM 4175.2, Content of Official Capacity Public Communications.
10 FAM 362.4 Information Format and File Types
(CT:PEC-98; 09-02-2026)
a. HTML web pages are the most usable, accessible way to provide information on the web. When HTML is not appropriate or cannot meet the needs of the content, use formats like PDF that do not require website users to purchase software.
b. For complex data, Excel or open-source spreadsheets are acceptable if an HTML table does not meet the mission need.
c. Avoid posting Word documents.
d. Avoid posting presentation slide decks.
10 FAM 362.5 Copyright Considerations
(CT:PEC-98; 09-02-2026)
a. Respect copyrights: Only post copyrighted material on a Department public-facing website if appropriate rights/permission to do so have been obtained. Do not assume doctrines of "fair use" apply to or necessarily dispense with having to obtain appropriate rights/permission. See 5 FAM 490, Use of Copyrighted Material.
b. Original content prepared by a U.S. Government employee as part of that employee's official duties is not subject to U.S. copyright. Do not mark such material as copyrighted, as it is, for copyright purposes, in the public domain. Use copyright insignia (e.g., "©") only on content that is subject to copyright.
c. Specific questions regarding copyright, including on "fair use," may be directed to the Office of the Assistant Legal Adviser for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs (L/PD) in the Office of the Legal Adviser (L).
10 FAM 362.6 Advertising
(CT:PEC-98; 09-02-2026)
Do not publish any advertising or paid solicitations for private parties on Department public-facing websites.
10 FAM 362.7 External Links
(CT:PEC-98; 09-02-2026)
Department public-facing websites may in certain circumstances include links to non-government websites, including those operated by private sector companies, but only under the following parameters:
a. There must be a legitimate foreign policy purpose for doing so.
b. The content of the link is informational in nature.
c. There is no other mechanism for providing the information in the link.
d. The link is provided for informational purposes only and in a way that does not imply endorsement of its content or owner/operator.
e. Use of any external links is neither biased toward nor unduly preferential to any particular sources or publications.
f. Questions regarding inclusion of links to external (i.e., third party) websites should be directed to GPA, which will consult with L as appropriate.
10 FAM 362.8 Records Management
(CT:PEC-98; 09-02-2026)
Contact the Office of Enterprise Records Management in the Bureau of Administration (A/SKS/PPKM/ERM) to develop a records disposition schedule for a Department public-facing website.
10 FAM 363 State.gov Policies
(CT:PEC-98; 09-02-2026)
GPA/DIG/PLT manages www.state.gov (commonly referred to as state.gov), the Department's primary public affairs website. Contact GPA/DIG/PLT about state.gov at WMmailbox@state.gov.
10 FAM 363.1 Content on State.gov
(CT:PEC-98; 09-02-2026)
Bureaus and offices must:
a. Clear content intended for state.gov before sending updates to GPA/DIG/PLT or their own web staff for publication.
b. Designate staff to work with GPA/DIG/PLT to keep content updated.
c. Contact GPA/DIG/PLT before deleting content. Removing content from state.gov may draw attention from the press and public.
10 FAM 363.2 External Links on State.gov
(CT:PEC-98; 09-02-2026)
a. Links to external (i.e., third party) websites are allowed on state.gov if consistent with 10 FAM 362.8, External Links, and the external website is not of a private, commercial party (to include media outlets, and sites sponsored by state or local governments). Any exceptions must be approved by GPA.
b. State.gov will not link to external websites associated with partisan political activity.
c. State.gov does not link to media outlets because:
1. State.gov provides a first-party source of information about the Department and U.S. foreign policy.
2. Links to media outlets may imply endorsement of entire articles or op-eds, or endorsement of a news outlet itself.
3. The Department has no control over third-party content, which could be changed at any time.
10 FAM 363.3 Biographies on State.gov
(CT:PEC-98; 09-02-2026)
GPA/DIG/PLT publishes biographies of senior Department officials on state.gov as follows:
a. Per 5 FAM 776.3, Web Site Development: Content, GPA/DIG/PLT publishes biographies for DAS equivalents and above, with the consent of the officials whose biographies are published.
b. Biographies do not include family information or other personally identifiable information (PII). For example, biographies do not include personal addresses.
c. Missions publish U.S. Ambassador biographies to their local sites within the Mission Website Platform instead of on state.gov.
d. When a principal leaves the Department, offices should notify GPA/DIG/PLT of the date of departure. GPA/DIG/PLT removes the biography from the list of biographies and relevant bureau pages, but the biography remains searchable. After a presidential transition, GPA/DIG/PLT moves all political appointee and retiree biographies to an archived website that remains publicly accessible.
10 FAM 363.4 Remarks and Releases on State.gov
(CT:PEC-98; 09-02-2026)
GPA publishes remarks and releases attributed to the Department and Department officials. For releases from other U.S. Government agencies or the White House, state.gov links to relevant government websites.
10 FAM 363.5 Images on State.gov
(CT:PEC-98; 09-02-2026)
a. GPA/DIG/PLT obtains images through licensing agreements with photography providers. Bureaus must clear images from both a content and copyright perspective before submitting for publication on state.gov.
b. Source information and suggested alternative text is required for all images when submitting to GPA/DIG/PLT for publication.
10 FAM 363.6 Languages on State.gov
(CT:PEC-98; 09-02-2026)
English is the primary language on state.gov per 5 FAM 776.3, Web Site Development: Content. English language pages may link to foreign language translations on state.gov.
10 FAM 364 Mission Websites
(CT:PEC-98; 09-02-2026)
a. GPA/DIG/PLT supports all mission websites through the Mission Website Platform (MWP). The MWP maximizes centralized technology resources and provides a secure and universally accessible means to update mission websites. GPA/DIG/PLT administers MWP, and missions abroad retain primary responsibility for the content and editorial operation of their respective sites. Missions must host their websites on MWP and submit requests for other websites to GPA/DIG/PLT for approval.
b. GPA/DIG/PLT's website support to missions includes:
1. Technical support, development, operations, maintenance, and hosting, in compliance with all laws, regulations, Executive Orders, policies, directives and OMB regulations regarding federal agency public websites.
2. Editorial standards, guidelines, and operating procedures for managing post websites, including foreign language versions.
3. Providing usage data.
c. GPA/DIG/PLT can provide emergency assistance to posts if requested. In an emergency situation, posts can contact GPA/DIG/PLT directly or through the Department's operations center (or task force, if appropriate) and request assistance. Emergency assistance may range from publishing alerts on behalf of the mission to temporarily assuming management of the mission website.
3 FAM 365 through 369 unassigned