---
kind: "section"
citation: "22 U.S.C. § 1741b"
title: "22"
title_heading: "Foreign Relations and Intercourse"
number: "1741b"
heading: "Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/22/1741b"
units:
  - "Chapter 23 — Protection of Citizens Abroad"
  - "Subchapter II — Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability"
---

# §1741b. Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell

- (a) **Establishment—** The President shall establish an interagency Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell.
- (b) **Participation—** The President shall direct the heads of each of the following executive departments, agencies, and [offices](/usc/22/2214a.md?p=9) to make available personnel to participate in the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell:
  - (1) The Department of State.
  - (2) The Department of the Treasury.
  - (3) The Department of Defense.
  - (4) The Department of Justice.
  - (5) The [Office](/usc/22/2214a.md?p=9) of the Director of National Intelligence.
  - (6) The Federal Bureau of Investigation.
  - (7) The Central Intelligence Agency.
  - (8) Other agencies as the President, from time to time, may designate.
- (c) **Personnel—** The Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell shall include—
  - (1) a Director, who shall be a full-time senior officer or [employee](/usc/22/4341.md?p=1) of the [United States](/usc/22/1395.md?p=a-1) Government;
  - (2) a [Family](/usc/22/4304a.md?p=c-2) Engagement Coordinator who shall—
    - (A) work to ensure that all interactions by executive branch officials with a hostage’s [family](/usc/22/4304a.md?p=c-2) occur in a coordinated fashion and that the [family](/usc/22/4304a.md?p=c-2) receives consistent and accurate information from the [United States](/usc/22/1395.md?p=a-1) Government; and
    - (B) if directed, perform the same function as set out in [subparagraph (A)](#c-2-A) with regard to the [family](/usc/22/4304a.md?p=c-2) of a [United States national](/usc/22/1741e.md?p=2) who is unlawfully or wrongfully detained abroad; and
  - (3) other officers and [employees](/usc/22/4341.md?p=1) as deemed appropriate by the President.
- (d) **Duties—** The Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell shall—
  - (1) coordinate efforts by participating agencies to ensure that all relevant information, expertise, and resources are brought to bear to secure the safe recovery of [United States nationals](/usc/22/1741e.md?p=2) held hostage abroad;
  - (2) if directed, coordinate the [United States](/usc/22/1395.md?p=a-1) Government’s response to other hostage-takings occurring abroad in which the [United States](/usc/22/1395.md?p=a-1) has a national interest;
  - (3) if directed, coordinate or assist the [United States](/usc/22/1395.md?p=a-1) Government’s response to help secure the release of [United States nationals](/usc/22/1741e.md?p=2) unlawfully or wrongfully detained abroad; and
  - (4) pursuant to policy guidance coordinated through the National Security Council—
    - (A) identify and recommend hostage recovery options and strategies to the President through the National Security Council or the Deputies Committee of the National Security Council;
    - (B) coordinate efforts by participating agencies to ensure that information regarding hostage events, including potential recovery options and engagements with [families](/usc/22/4304a.md?p=c-2) and external actors (including [foreign](/usc/22/3146.md?p=1) governments), is appropriately shared within the [United States](/usc/22/1395.md?p=a-1) Government to facilitate a coordinated response to a hostage-taking;
    - (C) assess and track all hostage-takings of [United States nationals](/usc/22/1741e.md?p=2) abroad and provide regular reports to the President and Congress on the status of such cases and any measures being taken toward the hostages’ safe recovery;
    - (D) provide a forum for intelligence sharing and, with the support of the Director of National Intelligence, coordinate the declassification of relevant information;
    - (E) coordinate efforts by participating agencies to provide appropriate support and assistance to hostages and their [families](/usc/22/4304a.md?p=c-2) in a coordinated and consistent manner and to provide [families](/usc/22/4304a.md?p=c-2) with timely information regarding significant events in their cases;
    - (F) make recommendations to agencies in order to reduce the likelihood of [United States nationals](/usc/22/1741e.md?p=2)’ being taken hostage abroad and enhance [United States](/usc/22/1395.md?p=a-1) Government preparation to maximize the probability of a favorable outcome following a hostage-taking; and
    - (G) coordinate with agencies regarding congressional, media, and other public inquiries pertaining to hostage events.
- (e) **Administration—** The Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell shall be located within the Federal Bureau of Investigation for administrative purposes.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 116–260, div. FF, title III, § 304, Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 3094.)