10 FAM 130
REMARKS AND WRITINGS FOR THE MEDIA AND GENERAL PUBLIC
(CT:PEC-92; 05-21-2020)
(Office of Origin: GPA/EX)
10 FAM 131 POLICY, SCOPE, AND AUTHORITY
10 FAM 131.1 Policy
(CT:PEC-92; 05-21-2020)
a. All official statements to the press must be approved by the Assistant Secretary for Global Public Affairs/Spokesperson.
b. All official public remarks and testimony by Assistant Secretaries and above must be approved by the Assistant Secretary for Global Public Affairs.
c. Official appearances before the media or general public to give formal interviews, speeches, or remarks must be cleared with the Assistant Secretary for Global Public Affairs. See 10 FAM 131.4. See also 3 FAM 4174.2 and 3 FAM 4174.3.
d. All unofficial speaking, writing, or teaching activities that are of official concern must be approved by the Assistant Secretary for Global Public Affairs, in accordance with 3 FAM 4174.2 and 3 FAM 4174.3.
e. The Office of Inspector General is exempt from these clearances and approvals but will notify the Assistant Secretary for Global Public Affairs or designee when testifying, making public remarks, interviews, speeches, and relevant writing and teaching.
10 FAM 131.2 Scope
(CT:PEC-35; 08-21-2017)
a. The policy for official public remarks applies to all current Department of State employees.
b. The policy for unofficial speaking, writing, or teaching (see 10 FAM 131.4) applies to all current Department of State employees.
c. Former employees remain obligated by law not to disclose classified information, and certain employees may be bound by nondisclosure agreements. See also 3 FAM 4174.2 paragraph d.
10 FAM 131.3 Responsibilities
(CT:PEC-92; 05-21-2020)
a. The Bureau of Global Public Affairs (GPA) clears all Department statements, speeches released to the press, and media interviews.
b. The GPA bureau drafts speeches and testimony for the Secretary. It clears all public remarks by senior officials above the Assistant Secretary level.
c. The bureau clears all official appearances before the general public.
d. The bureau oversees the wide dissemination of public remarks and the approval of unofficial speaking, writing, or teaching (see 10 FAM 131.4).
10 FAM 131.4 Definitions
(CT:PEC-92; 05-21-2020)
a. Official: Speaking, writing, or teaching is official (and automatically of official concern) when conducted in connection with Department employment, or in any capacity representing the Department of State, regardless of location:
(1) Statements to the press include any remark to the press that quotes, reflects the views of, or gives the Department’s position, or represents the Department in any way;
(2) Public remarks include speeches, congressional testimony, press statements, and remarks prepared for photo opportunities;
(3) Public appearances include appearances before the general public for the purpose of giving speeches or other remarks;
(4) Media interviews include those with newspaper, magazine, TV, radio, or other forums; and
(5) Teaching includes that which involves subject matter of official concern and/or occurs on duty, on U.S. Government property, or under U.S. Government sponsorship.
b. Of official concern: These activities reasonably may be interpreted as relating to the current responsibilities, programs, or operations of the Department of State or to current U.S. foreign policies and activities such as public speaking, writing or teaching materials, or those which reasonably may be expected to affect the foreign relations of the United States. They require Department clearance in accordance with 3 FAM 4174.2 (see also 10 FAM 131.1). Those activities and subjects not included in this definition do not require clearance. When in doubt, contact the Office of Global Web Platforms (GPA/GWP).
c. Unofficial: Speaking, writing, or teaching is unofficial when conducted in a private capacity outside U.S. Government property, work hours, or orders and concerns such matters as the employee or former employee may be involved in by virtue of unofficial, personal, or avocational interests. These activities fall into two categories:
(1) Unofficial but of official concern (see paragraph b of this section); or
(2) Unofficial and of no official concern. These are all activities and subjects that do not require clearance (see 10 FAM 131.4, paragraph b).
d. Electronic dissemination: Includes but is not limited to any information dissemination through public computer bulletin boards or other on-line systems, e-mail, CD-ROM, or digital audio tape.
e. Organized hard-copy dissemination: Includes but is not limited to any hard-copy material reproduced using a copier, printing press, or similar equipment that is disseminated through any sales program or is disseminated free to the public regularly and/or through a mailing list to selected audiences (as opposed to limited copies reproduced in response to specific requests from the public on an ad hoc basis).
10 FAM 131.5 Authorities
(CT:PEC-92; 05-21-2020)
Basic Bureau of Global Public Affairs authorities are found at 1 FAM 320.
10 FAM 132 OFFICIAL STATEMENTS AND REMARKS TO THE PRESS
(CT:PEC-92; 05-21-2020)
Generally, statements to the press are made only by the Secretary; a Deputy Secretary or Under Secretary; the Assistant Secretary for Global Public Affairs/Department Spokesman or Deputy Spokesman; authorized personnel of the Office of Press Relations; and other Department officials cleared to deliver such statements by the Bureau of Global Public Affairs.
10 FAM 133 PREPARING OFFICIAL PUBLIC REMARKS
(CT:PEC-92; 05-21-2020)
At the level of Assistant Secretary and above, submit drafts of public remarks as early as possible for clearance by the Assistant Secretary for Global Public Affairs or designee within the Bureau of Global Public Affairs.
10 FAM 134 PUBLIC APPEARANCES
10 FAM 134.1 Media
(CT:PEC-92; 05-21-2020)
The Office of Press Relations (GPA/Press) clears all requests and arrangements for interviews with the media.
10 FAM 134.2 General Public
(CT:PEC-92; 05-21-2020)
a. Officers must obtain clearance from the Public Liaison Office (GPA/PL) for all official appearances before the general public and must keep the office up to date on status.
b. Bureaus must keep the Public Liaison Office informed of the names of officers who are qualified to participate in public appearances.
c. Bureaus should work closely with the Bureau of Global Public Affairs to identify issues that should be receiving special attention for overall planning purposes.
10 FAM 135 DISSEMINATION OF PUBLIC REMARKS
(CT:PEC-92; 05-21-2020)
a. Major speeches, testimony, and other remarks are reviewed for inclusion in Dispatch by the Office of Global Web Platforms (GPA/GWP). See 10 FAM 142.
b. Bureaus/offices must obtain prior approval for electronic or organized hard-copy public dissemination from GPA/GWP following procedures in 10 FAM 142.
10 FAM 136 UNOFFICIAL SPEAKING, WRITING, AND TEACHING
(CT:PEC-92; 05-21-2020)
Employees should submit requests for review of unofficial speaking, writing, and teaching (as defined above) to the Office of Global Web Platforms (GPA/GWP). Department of State employees cannot make public or provide in a way that could allow access to the public any such material until it is cleared by the appropriate Department office(s). In addition, appropriate authorization must be received before any classified information may be disclosed. (See 3 FAM 4174.3.)
10 FAM 137 THROUGH 139 UNASSIGNED