The position was created on October 1, 1999, during the presidency of Bill Clinton after Title XIII, Section 1313 of the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998 (112 Stat.

On April 4, 2022, Elizabeth M. Allen was named acting under secretary by designation[2] and on June 13, 2023 she was confirmed by a vote of 66–33 in the United States Senate.

[4] Full appointments to the position require confirmation by the Senate.

From October 1, 1999, through August 29, 2019, the under secretary has been without a confirmed appointment 35.8% of the days.

The average time between confirmed appointments is 289 days (or over 9.5 months).