§3073a. Requirements for certain employment activities by former intelligence officers and employees
(a) Post-employment restrictions
(1) Covered post-service position
(A) Permanent restriction
Except as provided by paragraph (2)(A)(i), an employee of an element of the intelligence community who occupies a covered intelligence position may not occupy a covered post-service position for a designated prohibited foreign country following the date on which the employee ceases to occupy a covered intelligence position.
(B) Temporary restriction
Except as provided by paragraph (2)(A)(ii), an employee of an element of the intelligence community who occupies a covered intelligence position may not occupy a covered post-service position during the 30-month period following the date on which the employee ceases to occupy a covered intelligence position.
(2) Waiver
(A) Authority to grant temporary waiver
(i) Waivers of permanent restriction
On a case-by-case basis, the Director of National Intelligence may temporarily waive the restriction in paragraph (1)(A) with respect to an employee or former employee who is subject to that restriction only after-
(I) the employee or former employee submits to the Director a written application for such waiver in such form and manner as the Director determines appropriate;
(II) the Director determines that not granting such waiver would result in a grave detrimental impact to current or future intelligence operations of the United States; and
(III) the Director provides the congressional intelligence committees with a detailed justification stating why not granting such waiver would result in a grave detrimental impact to current or future intelligence operations of the United States.
(ii) Waivers of temporary restriction
On a case-by-case basis, the Director may temporarily waive the restriction in paragraph (1)(B) with respect to an employee or former employee who is subject to that restriction only after-
(I) the employee or former employee submits to the Director a written application for such waiver in such form and manner as the Director determines appropriate; and
(II) the Director determines that such waiver is necessary to advance the national security interests of the United States.
(B) Period of waiver
A waiver issued under subparagraph (A) shall apply for a period not exceeding 5 years. The Director may renew such a waiver.
(C) Revocation
The Director may revoke a waiver issued under subparagraph (A) to an employee or former employee, effective on the date that is 60 days after the date on which the Director provides the employee or former employee written notice of such revocation.
(D) Tolling
The 30-month restriction in paragraph (1)(B) shall be tolled for an employee or former employee during the period beginning on the date on which a waiver is issued under subparagraph (A) and ending on the date on which the waiver expires or on the effective date of a revocation under subparagraph (C), as the case may be.
(E) Notification
Not later than 30 days after the date on which the Director issues a waiver under subparagraph (A) or a revocation of a waiver under subparagraph (C), the Director shall submit to the congressional intelligence committees written notification of the waiver or revocation, as the case may be. Such notification shall include the following:
(i) With respect to a waiver issued to an employee or former employee-
(I) the details of the application, including the covered intelligence position held or formerly held by the employee or former employee;
(II) the nature of the activities of the employee or former employee after ceasing to occupy a covered intelligence position;
(III) a description of the national security interests that will be advanced by reason of issuing such waiver; and
(IV) the specific reasons why the Director determines that issuing such waiver will advance such interests.
(ii) With respect to a revocation of a waiver issued to an employee or former employee-
(I) the details of the waiver, including any renewals of such waiver, and the dates of such waiver and renewals; and
(II) the specific reasons why the Director determined that such revocation is warranted.
(b) Covered post-service employment reporting
(1) Requirement
During the period described in paragraph (2), an employee who ceases to occupy a covered intelligence position shall-
(A) report covered post-service employment to the head of the element of the intelligence community that employed such employee in such covered intelligence position upon accepting such covered post-service employment; and
(B) annually (or more frequently if the head of such element considers it appropriate) report covered post-service employment to the head of such element.
(2) Period described
The period described in this paragraph is the period beginning on the date on which an employee ceases to occupy a covered intelligence position.
(3) Regulations
The head of each element of the intelligence community shall issue regulations requiring, as a condition of employment, each employee of such element occupying a covered intelligence position to sign a written agreement requiring the regular reporting of covered post-service employment to the head of such element pursuant to paragraph (1).
(c) Penalties
(1) Criminal penalties
A former employee who knowingly and willfully violates subsection (a) or who knowingly and willfully fails to make a required report under subsection (b) shall be fined under title 18 or imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both. Each report under subsection (b) shall be subject to section 1001 of title 18.
(2) Security clearances
The head of an element of the intelligence community shall revoke the security clearance of a former employee if the former employee knowingly and willfully fails to make a required report under subsection (b) or knowingly and willfully makes a false report under such subsection.
(d) Provision of information
(1) Training
The head of each element of the intelligence community shall regularly provide training on the restrictions under subsection (a) and the reporting requirements under subsection (b) to employees of that element who occupy a covered intelligence position.
(2) Written notice about reporting requirements
The head of each element of the intelligence community shall provide written notice of the reporting requirements under subsection (b) to an employee when the employee occupies a covered intelligence position.
(3) Written notice about restrictions
The head of each element of the intelligence community shall provide written notice of the restrictions under subsection (a) to any person who may be subject to such restrictions on or after December 23, 2022-
(A) when the head of the element determines that such person may become subject to such covered intelligence position restrictions; and
(B) when the person occupies a covered intelligence position.
(e) Annual reports
(1) Requirement
Not later than March 31 of each year, the Director of National Intelligence shall submit to the congressional intelligence committees a report on covered post-service employment occurring during the year covered by the report.
(2) Elements
Each report under paragraph (1) shall include the following:
(A) The number of former employees who occupy a covered post-service position, broken down by-
(i) the name of the employer;
(ii) the foreign government, including by the specific foreign individual, agency, or entity, for whom the covered post-service employment is being performed; and
(iii) the nature of the services provided as part of the covered post-service employment.
(B) A certification by the Director that-
(i) each element of the intelligence community maintains adequate systems and processes for ensuring that former employees are submitting reports required under subsection (b);
(ii) to the knowledge of the heads of the elements of the intelligence community, all former employees who occupy a covered post-service position are in compliance with this section;
(iii) the services provided by former employees who occupy a covered post-service position do not-
(I) pose a current or future threat to the national security of the United States; or
(II) pose a counterintelligence risk; and
(iv) the Director and the heads of such elements are not aware of any credible information or reporting that any former employee who occupies a covered post-service position has engaged in activities that violate Federal law, infringe upon the privacy rights of United States persons, or constitute abuses of human rights.
(3) Form
Each report under paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.
(f) Notification
In addition to the annual reports under subsection (e), if a head of an element of the intelligence community determines that the services provided by a former employee who occupies a covered post-service position pose a threat or risk described in clause (iii) of paragraph (2)(B) of such subsection, or include activities described in clause (iv) of such paragraph, the head shall notify the congressional intelligence committees of such determination by not later than 7 days after making such determination. The notification shall include the following:
(1) The name of the former employee.
(2) The name of the employer.
(3) The foreign government, including the specific foreign individual, agency, or entity, for whom the covered post-service employment is being performed.
(4) As applicable, a description of-
(A) the risk to national security, the counterintelligence risk, or both; and
(B) the activities that may violate Federal law, infringe upon the privacy rights of United States persons, or constitute abuses of human rights.
(g) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Covered intelligence position
The term "covered intelligence position" means a position within an element of the intelligence community that, based on the level of access of a person occupying such position to information regarding sensitive intelligence sources or methods or other exceptionally sensitive matters, the head of such element determines should be subject to the requirements of this section.
(2) Covered post-service employment
The term "covered post-service employment" means direct or indirect employment by, representation of, or any provision of advice or services relating to national security, intelligence, the military, or internal security to, the government of a foreign country or any company, entity, or other person whose activities are directly or indirectly supervised, directed, controlled, financed, or subsidized, in whole or in major part, by any government of a foreign country.
(3) Covered post-service position
The term "covered post-service position" means a position of employment described in paragraph (2).
(4) Designated prohibited foreign country
The term "designated prohibited foreign country" means the following:
(A) The People's Republic of China.
(B) The Russian Federation.
(C) The Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
(D) The Islamic Republic of Iran.
(E) The Republic of Cuba.
(F) The Syrian Arab Republic.
(5) Employee
The term "employee", with respect to an employee occupying a covered intelligence position, includes an officer or official of an element of the intelligence community, a contractor of such an element, a detailee to such an element, or a member of the Armed Forces assigned to such an element.
(6) Former employee
The term "former employee" means an individual-
(A) who was an employee occupying a covered intelligence position; and
(B) who is subject to the requirements under subsection (a) or (b).
(7) Government of a foreign country
The term "government of a foreign country" has the meaning given the term in section 611(e) of title 22.
(July 26, 1947, ch. 343, title III, §304, as added
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 304 of act July 26, 1947, ch. 343, title III,
Amendments
2023-Subsec. (d)(1).
Subsec. (d)(2).
Subsec. (d)(3)(B).
2022-
Subsecs. (a), (b).
Subsec. (d)(2).
Subsec. (d)(3).
Subsec. (g)(4) to (7).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2022 Amendment
Revised Regulations
"(1)
"(2)
"(3)
"(A) include provisions that advise personnel of the intelligence community of the appropriate manner in which such personnel may opt out of positions that-
"(i) have been designated as covered intelligence positions before the effective date established in subsection (e) of this section; or
"(ii) may be designated as covered intelligence provisions before such designation becomes final; and
"(B) establish a period of not fewer than 30 days and not more than 60 days after receipt of the written notice required under paragraph (3) of subsection (d) of such section 304 [50 U.S.C. 3073a(d)(3)], as added by subsection (c)(1) of this section, within which such personnel may opt out of a covered intelligence position and the accompanying obligations imposed by subsection (a)(1)(A) of such section 304 [50 U.S.C. 3073a(a)(1)(A)], as amended by subsection (a) of this section.
"(4)
"(A) a written certification for each head of an element of the intelligence community who has issued new or updated regulations pursuant to paragraph (2); and
"(B) for each head of an element of the intelligence community who has not issued such new or updated regulations, an explanation for the failure to issue such new or updated regulations."
[For definitions of "intelligence community" and "congressional intelligence committees" as used in section 6301(d) of
"(A)
"(B)
"(i) a written certification for each head of an element of the intelligence community who has issued the updated regulations under such section 304, as amended by paragraph (1); and
"(ii) for each head of an element of the intelligence community who has not issued such updated regulations, an explanation for the failure to issue such updated regulations."
[For definitions of "congressional intelligence committees" and "intelligence community" as used in section 308(a)(3) of div. X of
Regulations and Certification
"(1)
"(2)
"(A) a certification that each head of an element of the intelligence community has prescribed the regulations required under section 304 of the National Security Act of 1947, as added by subsection (a) of this section; or
"(B) if the Director is unable to submit the certification described under subparagraph (A), an explanation as to why the Director is unable to submit such certification, including a designation of which heads of an element of the intelligence community have prescribed the regulations required under such section 304 and which have not."
[For definitions of terms used in section 305(b) of
Initial Report