5 U.S.C. § 5304 (2024) — Title 5: GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES / Chapter 53 / Subchapter I / Section 5304: Locality-based comparability payments
Locality-based comparability payments
Status: in_force

(a) Pay disparities shall be identified and reduced as follows:

(1) Comparability payments shall be payable within each locality determined to have a pay disparity greater than 5 percent.

(2)(A) The localities having pay disparities, and the size of those disparities, shall, for purposes of any comparability payment scheduled to take effect in any calendar year, be determined in accordance with the appropriate report, as prepared and submitted to the President under subsection (d)(1) for purposes of such calendar year.

(B) Any computation necessary to determine the size of the comparability payment to become payable for any locality in a year (as well as any determination as to the size of any pay disparity remaining after that comparability payment is made) shall likewise be made using data contained in the appropriate report (described in subparagraph (A)) so prepared and submitted for purposes of such calendar year.

(3) Subject to paragraph (4), the amount of the comparability payments payable under this subsection in a calendar year within any locality in which a comparability payment is payable shall be computed using such percentage as the President determines for such locality under subsection (d)(2), except that—

(A) the percentage for the first calendar year in which any amounts are payable under this section may not be less than 1/5 of the amount needed to reduce the pay disparity of the locality involved to 5 percent;

(B) the percentage for the second calendar year in which any amounts are payable under this section may not be less than 3/10 of the amount needed to reduce the pay disparity of the locality involved to 5 percent;

(C) the percentage for the third calendar year in which any amounts are payable under this section may not be less than 2/5 of the amount needed to reduce the pay disparity of the locality involved to 5 percent;

(D) the percentage for the fourth calendar year in which any amounts are payable under this section may not be less than ½ of the amount needed to reduce the pay disparity of the locality involved to 5 percent;

(E) the percentage for the fifth calendar year in which any amounts are payable under this section may not be less than 3/5 of the amount needed to reduce the pay disparity of the locality involved to 5 percent;

(F) the percentage for the sixth calendar year in which any amounts are payable under this section may not be less than 7/10 of the amount needed to reduce the pay disparity of the locality involved to 5 percent;

(G) the percentage for the seventh calendar year in which any amounts are payable under this section may not be less than 4/5 of the amount needed to reduce the pay disparity of the locality involved to 5 percent;

(H) the percentage for the eighth calendar year in which any amounts are payable under this section may not be less than 9/10 of the amount needed to reduce the pay disparity of the locality involved to 5 percent; and

(I) the percentage for the ninth calendar year in which any amounts are payable under this section, and any year thereafter, may not be less than the full amount necessary to reduce the pay disparity of the locality involved to 5 percent.

(4) Nothing in this section shall be considered to preclude the President, in his discretion, from adjusting comparability payments to a level higher than the minimum level otherwise required in a calendar year, including to the level necessary to eliminate a locality's pay disparity completely.

(b) After the ninth calendar year (referred to in subsection (a)(3)(I)), the level of comparability payments payable within such locality may be reduced for any subsequent calendar year, but only if, or to the extent that, the reduction would not immediately create another pay disparity in excess of 5 percent within the locality (taking into consideration any comparability payments remaining payable).

(c)(1) The amount of the comparability payment payable within any particular locality during a calendar year—

(A) shall be stated as a single percentage, which shall be uniformly applicable to General Schedule positions within the locality; and

(B) shall, for any employee entitled to receive a comparability payment, be computed by applying that percentage to such employee's scheduled rate of basic pay (or, if lower due to a limitation on the rate payable, the rate actually payable), subject to subsection (g).

(2) A comparability payment—

(A) shall be considered to be part of basic pay for purposes of retirement under chapter 83 or 84, as applicable, life insurance under chapter 87, and premium pay under subchapter V of chapter 55, and for such other purposes as may be expressly provided for by law or as the Office of Personnel Management may by regulation prescribe; and

(B) shall be paid in the same manner and at the same time as the basic pay payable to such employee pursuant to any provision of law outside of this section.

(3) Nothing in this subchapter shall be considered to permit or require that any portion of a comparability payment be taken into account for purposes of any adjustment under section 5303.

(4)(A) Only employees receiving scheduled rates of basic pay (subject to any pay limitation which may apply) shall be eligible for comparability payments under this section.

(B) Comparability payments shall not be payable for service performed in any position which may not, under subsection (f)(1)(A), be included within a pay locality.

(d) In order to carry out this section, the President shall—

(1) direct such agent as he considers appropriate to prepare and submit to him annually, after considering such views and recommendations as may be submitted under subsection (e) (but not later than 13 months before the start of the calendar year for purposes of which it is prepared), a report that—

(A) compares the rates of pay under the General Schedule (disregarding any described in section 5302(8)(C)) 1 with the rates of pay generally paid to non-Federal workers for the same levels of work within each pay locality, as determined on the basis of appropriate surveys that shall be conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics;

(B) based on data from such surveys, identifies each locality in which a pay disparity exists and specifies the size of each such pay disparity (before and after taking into consideration any comparability payments payable);

(C) makes recommendations for appropriate comparability payments, in conformance with applicable requirements of this section; and

(D) includes the views and recommendations submitted under subsection (e);

(2) after considering the report of his agent (including the views and recommendations referred to in subsection (e)(2)(C), provide for or adjust comparability payments in conformance with applicable requirements of this section, effective as of the beginning of the first applicable pay period commencing on or after January 1 of the applicable year; and

(3) transmit to Congress a report of the actions taken under paragraph (2) (together with a copy of the report submitted to him by his agent, including the views and recommendations referred to in subsection (e)(2)(C)) which shall—

(A) identify each pay locality;

(B) specify which localities have pay disparities in excess of 5 percent, and the size of the disparity existing in each of those localities, according to the pay agent's most recent report under paragraph (1) (before and after taking into consideration any comparability payments payable); and

(C) indicate the size of the respective comparability payments (expressed as percentages) which will be in effect under paragraph (2) for the various pay localities specified under subparagraph (B) for the applicable calendar year.

(e)(1) The President shall establish a Federal Salary Council of 9 members, of whom—

(A) 3 shall be chosen from among persons generally recognized for their impartiality, knowledge, and experience in the field of labor relations and pay policy; and

(B) 6 shall be representatives of employee organizations which represent substantial numbers of employees holding General Schedule positions, and who shall be selected giving due consideration to such factors as the relative numbers of employees represented by the various organizations, except that not more than 3 members of the Council at any one time shall be from a single employee organization, council, federation, alliance, association, or affiliation of employee organizations.

Members of the Council shall not receive pay by reason of their service on the Council, nor shall members who are not otherwise employees of the United States be considered employees by reason of any such service. However, members under subparagraph (A) may be paid expenses in accordance with section 5703. The President shall designate one of the members to serve as Chairman of the Federal Salary Council. One of the 3 members under subparagraph (A) may be the Chairman of the Federal Prevailing Rate Advisory Committee, notwithstanding the restriction under section 5347(a)(1), and such individual may also be designated to serve as Chairman of the Federal Salary Council.

(2) The pay agent shall—

(A) provide for meetings with the Council and give thorough consideration to the views and recommendations of the Council and the individual views and recommendations, if any, of the members of the Council regarding—

(i) the establishment or modification of pay localities;

(ii) the coverage of the surveys of pay localities conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics under subsection (d)(1)(A) (including, but not limited to, the occupations, establishment sizes, and industries to be surveyed, and how pay localities are to be surveyed);

(iii) the process of comparing the rates of pay payable under the General Schedule with rates of pay for the same levels of work performed by non-Federal workers; and

(iv) the level of comparability payments that should be paid in order to eliminate or reduce pay disparities in accordance with the requirements of this section;

(B) give thorough consideration to the views and recommendations of employee organizations not represented on the Council regarding the subjects in subparagraph (A)(i)–(iv); and

(C) include in its report to the President the views and recommendations submitted as provided in this subsection by the Council, by any member of the Council, and by employee organizations not represented on the Council.

(f)(1) The pay agent may provide for such pay localities as the pay agent considers appropriate, except that—

(A) each General Schedule position in the United States, as defined under section 5921(4), and its territories and possessions, including the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, shall be included within a pay locality; and

(B) the boundaries of pay localities shall be determined based on appropriate factors which may include local labor market patterns, commuting patterns, and practices of other employers.

(2)(A) The establishment or modification of any such boundaries shall be effected by regulations which, notwithstanding subsection (a)(2) of section 553, shall be promulgated in accordance with the notice and comment requirements of such section.

(B) Judicial review of any regulation under this subsection shall be limited to whether or not it was promulgated in accordance with the requirements referred to in subparagraph (A).

(g)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), comparability payments may not be paid at a rate which, when added to the rate of basic pay otherwise payable to the employee involved, would cause the total to exceed the rate of basic pay payable for level IV of the Executive Schedule.

(2) The applicable maximum under this subsection shall be level III of the Executive Schedule for—

(A) positions under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (h)(1);

(B) positions under subsection (h)(1)(C) not covered by appraisal systems certified under subsection 5307(d); and

(C) any positions under subsection (h)(1)(D) as the President may determine.

(3) The applicable maximum under this subsection shall be level II of the Executive Schedule for positions under subsection (h)(1)(C) covered by appraisal systems certified under section 5307(d).

(h)(1) For the purpose of this subsection, the term "position" means—

(A) a position to which section 5372 applies (relating to administrative law judges appointed under section 3105);

(B) a position to which section 5372a applies (relating to contract appeals board members);

(C) a Senior Executive Service position under section 3132 or 3151 or a senior level position under section 5376 stationed within the United States, but outside the 48 contiguous States and the District of Columbia in which the incumbent was an individual who on the day before the effective date of section 1912 of the Non-Foreign Area Retirement Equity Assurance Act of 2009 was eligible to receive a cost-of-living allowance under section 5941 and who thereafter has served continuously in an area in which such an allowance was payable; and

(D) a position within an Executive agency not covered under the General Schedule or any of the preceding subparagraphs, the rate of basic pay for which is (or, but for this section, would be) no more than the rate payable for level IV of the Executive Schedule;

but does not include—

(i) a position to which subchapter IV applies (relating to prevailing rate systems);

(ii) a position as to which a rate of pay is authorized under section 5377 (relating to critical positions);

(iii) a position to which subchapter II applies (relating to the Executive Schedule);

(iv) a Senior Executive Service position under section 3132, except for a position covered by subparagraph (C);

(v) a position in the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration Senior Executive Service under section 3151, except for a position covered by subparagraph (C);

(vi) a position in a system equivalent to the system in clause (iv), as determined by the President's Pay Agent designated under subsection (d); or

(vii) a position to which section 5376 applies (relating to certain senior-level and scientific and professional positions), except for a position covered by subparagraph (C).

(2)(A) Notwithstanding subsection (c)(4) or any other provision of this section, but subject to subparagraph (B) and paragraph (3), upon the request of the head of an Executive agency with respect to 1 or more categories of positions, the President may provide that each employee of such agency who holds a position within such category, and within the particular locality involved, shall be entitled to receive comparability payments.

(B) A request by an agency head or exercise of authority by the President under subparagraph (A) shall cover—

(i) with respect to the positions under subparagraphs (A) through (C) of paragraph (1), all positions described in the subparagraph or subparagraphs involved (excluding any under clause (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), or (vii) of such paragraph); and

(ii) with respect to positions under paragraph (1)(D), such positions as may be considered appropriate (excluding any under clause (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), or (vii) of paragraph (1)).

(C) Notwithstanding subsection (c)(4) or any other provision of law, but subject to paragraph (3), in the case of a category with positions that are in more than 1 Executive agency, the President may, on his own initiative, provide that each employee who holds a position within such category, and in the locality involved, shall be entitled to receive comparability payments. No later than 30 days before an employee receives comparability payments under this subparagraph, the President or the President's designee shall submit a detailed report to the Congress justifying the reasons for the extension, including consideration of recruitment and retention rates and the expense of extending locality pay.

(3) Comparability payments under this subsection—

(A) may be paid only in any calendar year in which comparability payments under the preceding provisions of this section are payable with respect to General Schedule positions within the same locality;

(B) shall take effect, within the locality involved, on the first day of the first applicable pay period commencing on or after such date as the President designates (except that no date may be designated which would require any retroactive payments), and shall remain in effect through the last day of the last applicable pay period commencing during that calendar year;

(C) shall be computed using the same percentage as is applicable, for the calendar year involved, with respect to General Schedule positions within the same locality; and

(D) shall be subject to the applicable limitation under subsection (g).

(i) The Office of Personnel Management may prescribe regulations, consistent with the provisions of this section, governing the payment of comparability payments to employees.

(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 459; Pub. L. 91–375, §6(c)(11), Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 776; Pub. L. 95–454, title IX, §906(a)(2), Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1224; Pub. L. 96–465, title II, §2314(c)(3), Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2168; Pub. L. 101–509, title V, §529 [title I, §101(a)(1)], Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1427, 1431; Pub. L. 102–378, §2(26), Oct. 2, 1992, 106 Stat. 1348; Pub. L. 108–136, div. A, title XI, §1125(a)(1), Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1638; Pub. L. 108–411, title III, §302(a)(1), Oct. 30, 2004, 118 Stat. 2318; Pub. L. 110–372, §2(a), Oct. 8, 2008, 122 Stat. 4043; Pub. L. 111–84, div. A, title XIX, §1912(a), Oct. 28, 2009, 123 Stat. 2619.)

Historical and Revision Notes

DerivationU.S. CodeRevised Statutes and 
Statutes at Large

 
5 U.S.C. 1174. 
Oct. 11, 1962, Pub. L. 87–793, §505, 76 Stat. 842.

The words "agencies" and "regulations" are substituted for "departments" and "rules", respectively.

Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The General Schedule, referred to in text, is set out under section 5332 of this title.

Section 5302(8)(C), referred to in subsec. (d)(1)(A), was redesignated 5302(8)(B) of this title by Pub. L. 103–89, §3(b)(1)(E)(i)(II), Sept. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 981.

Levels II, III, and IV of the Executive Schedule, referred to in subsecs. (g) and (h)(1)(D), are set out in sections 5313, 5314, and 5315, respectively, of this title.

For the effective date of section 1912 of the Non-Foreign Area Retirement Equity Assurance Act of 2009 [Pub. L. 111–84], referred to in subsec. (h)(1)(C), see section 1919(b) of Pub. L. 111–84, set out in a note below.

Amendments

2009—Subsec. (f)(1)(A). Pub. L. 111–84, §1912(a)(1), added subpar. (A) and struck out former subpar. (A), which read as follows: "each General Schedule position (excluding any outside the continental United States, as defined in section 5701(6)) shall be included with a pay locality; and".

Subsec. (g)(2)(B), (C). Pub. L. 111–84, §1912(a)(2)(A), added subpars. (B) and (C) and struck out former subpar. (B) which read as follows: "any positions under subsection (h)(1)(C) as the President may determine."

Subsec. (g)(3). Pub. L. 111–84, §1912(a)(2)(B), added par. (3).

Subsec. (h)(1)(C), (D). Pub. L. 111–84, §1912(a)(3)(A)–(C), added subpar. (C) and redesignated former subpar. (C) as (D).

Subsec. (h)(1)(iv), (v). Pub. L. 111–84, §1912(a)(3)(D), (E), inserted ", except for a position covered by subparagraph (C)" before the semicolon.

Subsec. (h)(1)(vii). Pub. L. 111–84, §1912(a)(3)(F), inserted ", except for a position covered by subparagraph (C)" before the period.

Subsec. (h)(2)(B)(i). Pub. L. 111–84, §1912(a)(4)(A), substituted "through (C)" for "and (B)".

Subsec. (h)(2)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 111–84, §1912(a)(4)(B), substituted "(1)(D)" for "(1)(C)".

2008—Subsec. (g)(2). Pub. L. 110–372, §2(a)(1), amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows:

"(2) The applicable maximum under this subsection shall be level III of the Executive Schedule for—

"(A) positions under subparagraphs (A)–(C) of subsection (h)(1); and

"(B) any positions under subsection (h)(1)(D) which the President may determine."

Subsec. (h)(1). Pub. L. 110–372, §2(a)(2)(A)(ii), which directed amendment of subsec. (h)(1)(D) by striking "or" at end of cl. (v), substituting "; or" for period at end of cl. (vi), and adding at end a new cl. (vii), was executed by making the strike out and substitution in the cls. (v) and (vi) which follow subpar. (D) and by adding cl. (vii) after cl. (vi), to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Subsec. (h)(1)(A) to (D). Pub. L. 110–372, §2(a)(2)(A)(i), (iii), redesignated subpars. (B) to (D) as (A) to (C), respectively, and struck out former subpar. (A) which read as follows: "a position to which section 5376 applies (relating to certain senior-level positions);".

Subsec. (h)(2)(B)(i). Pub. L. 110–372, §2(a)(2)(B)(i), substituted "subparagraphs (A) and (B)" for "subparagraphs (A) through (C)" and "(vi), or (vii)" for "or (vi)".

Subsec. (h)(2)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 110–372, §2(a)(2)(B)(ii), substituted "paragraph (1)(C)" for "paragraph (1)(D)" and "(vi), or (vii)" for "or (vi)".

2004—Subsec. (g)(2)(A). Pub. L. 108–411, §302(a)(1)(A), substituted "(A)–(C)" for "(A)–(D)".

Subsec. (h)(2)(B)(i). Pub. L. 108–411, §302(a)(1)(B), substituted "or (vi)" for "or (vii)".

2003—Subsec. (g)(2)(A). Pub. L. 108–136, §1125(a)(1)(A)(i), substituted "subparagraphs (A)–(D)" for "subparagraphs (A)–(E)".

Subsec. (g)(2)(B). Pub. L. 108–136, §1125(a)(1)(A)(ii), substituted "subsection (h)(1)(D)" for "subsection (h)(1)(F)".

Subsec. (h)(1)(B) to (F). Pub. L. 108–136, §1125(a)(1)(B)(i), (ii), redesignated subpars. (D), (E), and (F) as (B), (C), and (D), respectively, and struck out former subpars. (B) and (C) which read as follows:

"(B) a Senior Executive Service position under section 3132;

"(C) a position in the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration Senior Executive Service under section 3151;".

Subsec. (h)(1)(iv) to (vi). Pub. L. 108–136, §1125(a)(1)(B)(iii)–(v), added cls. (iv) to (vi).

Subsec. (h)(2)(B)(i). Pub. L. 108–136, §1125(a)(1)(C)(i), substituted "subparagraphs (A) through (C)" for "subparagraphs (A) through (E)" and "clause (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), or (vii)" for "clause (i) or (ii)".

Subsec. (h)(2)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 108–136, §1125(a)(1)(C)(ii), substituted "paragraph (1)(D)" for "paragraph (1)(F)" and "clause (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), or (vi)" for "clause (i) or (ii)".

1992—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 102–378, §2(26)(A)(i), substituted "Subject to paragraph (4)," for "Subject to paragraphs (4) and (5)," and "a comparability payment" for "a comparative payment".

Subsec. (a)(3)(H). Pub. L. 102–378, §2(26)(A)(ii), inserted "and" after semicolon at end.

Subsec. (a)(3)(I). Pub. L. 102–378, §2(26)(A)(iii), substituted a period for semicolon at end.

Subsec. (d)(1)(A). Pub. L. 102–378, §2(26)(B), inserted "(disregarding any described in section 5302(8)(C))" after "General Schedule" and struck out "annual" before "surveys".

Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 102–378, §2(26)(C)(i), inserted after second sentence "However, members under subparagraph (A) may be paid expenses in accordance with section 5703."

Subsec. (e)(2)(A)(ii). Pub. L. 102–378, §2(26)(C)(ii), substituted "surveys of pay localities" for "annual survey" and "industries" for "industries,".

Subsec. (g)(2). Pub. L. 102–378, §2(26)(D), amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: "For positions under subparagraphs (A)–(E) of subsection (h)(1), the applicable maximum under this subsection shall be level III of the Executive Schedule."

Subsec. (h)(1)(F). Pub. L. 102–378, §2(26)(E)(i)(I), amended subpar. (F) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (F) read as follows: "a position within an Executive agency not covered under any of the preceding subparagraphs, the rate of basic pay for which is (or, but for this section, would be) less than the rate payable for level V of the Executive Schedule;".

Subsec. (h)(1)(iii). Pub. L. 102–378, §2(26)(E)(i)(II)–(IV), added cl. (iii).

Subsec. (h)(2)(C). Pub. L. 102–378, §2(26)(E)(ii), added subpar. (C).

Subsec. (h)(3)(B). Pub. L. 102–378, §2(26)(E)(iii), amended subpar. (B) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (B) read as follows: "shall be payable, within the locality involved, for the entirety of each calendar year for which authority is granted by the President;".

1990—Pub. L. 101–509 amended section generally, substituting provisions relating to locality-based comparability payments for provisions making functions, duties, and regulations of agencies and Office of Personnel Management with respect to this subchapter subject to Presidential policies and regulations.

1980—Pub. L. 96–465 substituted "the Foreign Service Act of 1980" for "chapter 14 of title 22" in provisions preceding par. (1).

1978—Pub. L. 95–454 substituted "Office of Personnel Management" for "Civil Service Commission".

1970—Pub. L. 91–375 struck out provisions making functions, duties and regulations of the agencies and the Civil Service Commission with respect to the provisions of part III of title 39 relating to employees in the postal field service subject to Presidential policies and regulations.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2009 Amendment

For effective date of amendment by Pub. L. 111–84, see section 1919 of Pub. L. 111–84, set out in a Non-Foreign Area Retirement Equity Assurance note below.

Effective Date of 2008 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 110–372 effective on the first day of the first pay period beginning on or after the 180th day following Oct. 8, 2008, see section 2(d) of Pub. L. 110–372, set out as a note under section 5376 of this title.

Effective Date of 2004 Amendment

Pub. L. 108–411, title III, §302(a)(2), Oct. 30, 2004, 118 Stat. 2318, provided that: "The amendments made by this subsection [amending this section] shall take effect as if included in the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (Public Law 108–136)."

Effective Date of 2003 Amendment

Pub. L. 108–136, div. A, title XI, §1125(c), Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1640, provided that:

"(1) The amendments made by this section [enacting section 7302 of this title and amending this section, sections 5382 and 5383 of this title, and section 207 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure] shall take effect on the first day of the first pay period beginning on or after the first January 1 following the date of the enactment of this section [Nov. 24, 2003].

"(2) The amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section and sections 5382 and 5383 of this title] may not result in a reduction in the rate of basic pay for any senior executive during the first year after the effective date of those amendments.

"(3) For the purposes of paragraph (2), the rate of basic pay for a senior executive shall be deemed to be the rate of basic pay set for the senior executive under section 5383 of title 5, United States Code, plus applicable locality pay paid to that senior executive, as of the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 24, 2003].

"(4) Until otherwise provided by law, or except as otherwise provided by this section, any reference in a provision of law to a rate of basic pay that is above the minimum payable and below the maximum payable to a member of the Senior Executive Service shall be considered a reference to the rate of basic pay payable for level IV of the Executive Schedule."

Effective Date of 1990 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 101–509 effective on such date as the President shall determine, but not earlier than 90 days, and not later than 180 days, after Nov. 5, 1990, with provision that first calendar year in which comparability payments under this section are paid shall be calendar year beginning Jan. 1, 1994, see section 529 [title III, §305] of Pub. L. 101–509, set out as a note under section 5301 of this title.

Effective Date of 1980 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 96–465 effective Feb. 15, 1981, except as otherwise provided, see section 2403 of Pub. L. 96–465, set out an Effective Date note under section 3901 of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse.

Effective Date of 1978 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 95–454 effective 90 days after Oct. 13, 1978, see section 907 of Pub. L. 95–454, set out as a note under section 1101 of this title.

Effective Date of 1970 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 91–375 effective within 1 year after Aug. 12, 1970, on date established therefor by Board of Governors of United States Postal Service and published by it in Federal Register, see section 15(a) of Pub. L. 91–375, set out as an Effective Date note preceding section 101 of Title 39, Postal Service.

Locality Pay for Federal Employees Working Overseas Under Domestic Employee Teleworking Overseas Agreements

Pub. L. 117–263, div. I, title XCVII, §9717, Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3922, provided that:

"(a) Definitions.—In this section:

"(1) Civil service.—The term 'civil service' has the meaning given the term in section 2101 of title 5, United States Code.

"(2) Covered employee.—The term 'covered employee' means an employee who—

"(A) occupies a position in the civil service; and

"(B) is working overseas under a Domestic Employee Teleworking Overseas agreement.

"(3) Locality pay.—The term 'locality pay' means a locality-based comparability payment paid in accordance with subsection (b).

"(4) Nonforeign area.—The term 'nonforeign area' has the meaning given the term in section 591.205 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.

"(5) Overseas.—The term 'overseas' means any geographic location that is not in—

"(A) the continental United States; or

"(B) a nonforeign area.

"(b) Payment of Locality Pay.—Each covered employee shall be paid locality pay in an amount that is equal to the lesser of—

"(1) the amount of a locality-based comparability payment that the covered employee would have been paid under section 5304 or 5304a of title 5, United States Code, had the official duty station of the covered employee not been changed to reflect an overseas location under the applicable Domestic Employee Teleworking Overseas agreement; or

"(2) the amount of a locality-based comparability payment that the covered employee would be paid under section 1113 of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2009 (Public Law 111–32) [123 Stat. 1904], as limited under section 9802(c)(2) of this Act [136 Stat. 3924], if the covered employee were an eligible member of the Foreign Service (as defined in subsection (b) of such section 1113).

"(c) Application.—Locality pay paid to a covered employee under this section—

"(1) shall begin to be paid not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 23, 2022]; and

"(2) shall be treated in the same manner, and subject to the same terms and conditions, as a locality-based comparability payment paid under section 5304 or 5304a of title 5, United States Code."

Non-Foreign Area Retirement Equity Assurance

Pub. L. 111–84, div. A, title XIX, subtitle B, Oct. 28, 2009, 123 Stat. 2619, as amended by Pub. L. 111–383, div. A, title X, §1075(d)(22), Jan. 7, 2011, 124 Stat. 4374, provided that:

"SEC. 1911. SHORT TITLE.

"This subtitle may be cited as the 'Non-Foreign Area Retirement Equity Assurance Act of 2009' or the 'Non-Foreign AREA Act of 2009'.

"SEC. 1912. EXTENSION OF LOCALITY PAY.

"(a) Locality-based Comparability Payments.—[Amended this section.]

"(b) Allowances Based on Living Costs and Conditions of Environment.—[Amended section 5941 of this title.]

"SEC. 1913. ADJUSTMENT OF SPECIAL RATES.

"(a) In General.—Each special rate of pay established under section 5305 of title 5, United States Code, and payable in an area designated as a cost-of-living allowance area under section 5941(a) of that title, shall be adjusted, on the dates prescribed by section 1914, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management under section 1918.

"(b) Agencies With Statutory Authority.—

"(1) In general.—Each special rate of pay established under an authority described under paragraph (2) and payable in a location designated as a cost-of-living allowance area under section 5941(a)(1) of title 5, United States Code, shall be adjusted in accordance with regulations prescribed by the applicable head of the agency that are consistent with the regulations issued by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management under subsection (a).

"(2) Statutory authority.—The authority referred to under paragraph (1), [sic] is any statutory authority that—

"(A) is similar to the authority exercised under section 5305 of title 5, United States Code;

"(B) is exercised by the head of an agency when the head of the agency determines it to be necessary in order to obtain or retain the services of persons specified by statute; and

"(C) authorizes the head of the agency to increase the minimum, intermediate, or maximum rates of basic pay authorized under applicable statutes and regulations.

"(c) Temporary Adjustment.—Regulations issued under subsection (a) or (b) may provide that statutory limitations on the amount of such special rates may be temporarily raised to a higher level during the transition period described in section 1914 ending on the first day of the first pay period beginning on or after January 1, 2012, at which time any special rate of pay in excess of the applicable limitation shall be converted to a retained rate under section 5363 of title 5, United States Code.

"SEC. 1914. TRANSITION SCHEDULE FOR LOCALITY-BASED COMPARABILITY PAYMENTS.

"Notwithstanding any other provision of this subtitle or section 5304 or 5304a of title 5, United States Code, in implementing the amendments made by this subtitle, for each non-foreign area determined under section 5941(b) of such title, the applicable rate for the locality-based comparability adjustment that is used in the computation required under section 5941(c) of such title shall be adjusted, effective on the first day of the first pay period beginning on or after January 1—

"(1) in calendar year 2010, by using 1/3 of the locality pay percentage for the rest of United States locality pay area;

"(2) in calendar year 2011, by using 2/3 of the otherwise applicable comparability payment approved by the President for each non-foreign area; and

"(3) in calendar year 2012 and each subsequent year, by using the full amount of the applicable comparability payment approved by the President for each non-foreign area.

"SEC. 1915. SAVINGS PROVISION.

"(a) Sense of Congress.—It is the sense of Congress that—

"(1) the application of this subtitle to any employee should not result in a decrease in the take home pay of that employee;

"(2) in calendar year 2012 and each subsequent year, no employee shall receive less than the Rest of the U.S. locality pay rate;

"(3) concurrent with the surveys next conducted under the provisions of section 5304(d)(1)(A) of title 5, United States Code, beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 28, 2009], the Bureau of Labor Statistics should conduct separate surveys to determine the extent of any pay disparity (as defined by section 5302 of that title) that may exist with respect to positions located in the State of Alaska, the State of Hawaii, and the United States territories, including American Samoa, Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands;

"(4) if the surveys under paragraph (3) indicate that the pay disparity determined for the State of Alaska, the State of Hawaii, or any 1 of the United States territories including American Samoa, Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands exceeds the pay disparity determined for the locality which (for purposes of section 5304 of that title) is commonly known as the 'Rest of the United States', the President's Pay Agent should take appropriate measures to provide that each such surveyed area be treated as a separate pay locality for purposes of that section; and

"(5) the President's Pay Agent will establish 1 locality area for the entire State of Hawaii and 1 locality area for the entire State of Alaska.

"(b) Savings Provisions.—

"(1) In general.—During the transition period described in section 1914 ending on the first day of the first pay period beginning on or after January 1, 2012, an employee paid a special rate under 5305 of title 5, United States Code, who the day before the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 28, 2009] was eligible to receive a cost-of-living allowance under section 5941 of title 5, United States Code, and who continues to be officially stationed in an allowance area, shall receive an increase in the employee's special rate consistent with increases in the applicable special rate schedule. For employees in allowance areas, the minimum step rate for any grade of a special rate schedule shall be increased at the time of an increase in the applicable locality rate percentage for the allowance area by not less than the dollar increase in the locality-based comparability payment for a non-special rate employee at the same minimum step provided under section 1914 of this subtitle, and corresponding increases shall be provided for all step rates of the given pay range.

"(2) Continuation of cost of living allowance rate.—If an employee, who the day before the date of enactment of this Act was eligible to receive a cost-of-living allowance under section 5941 of title 5, United States Code, would receive a rate of basic pay and applicable locality-based comparability payment which is in excess of the maximum rate limitation set under section 5304(g) of title 5, United States Code, for his position (but for that maximum rate limitation) due to the operation of this subtitle, the employee shall continue to receive the cost-of-living allowance rate in effect on December 31, 2009 without adjustment until—

"(A) the employee leaves the allowance area or pay system; or

"(B) the employee is entitled to receive basic pay (including any applicable locality-based comparability payment or similar supplement) at a higher rate,

but, when any such position becomes vacant, the pay of any subsequent appointee thereto shall be fixed in the manner provided by applicable law and regulation.

"(3) Locality-based comparability payments.—Any employee covered under paragraph (2) shall receive any applicable locality-based comparability payment extended under section 1914 of this subtitle which is not in excess of the maximum rate set under section 5304(g) of title 5, United States Code, for his position including any future increase to statutory pay limitations under 5318 of title 5, United States Code. Notwithstanding paragraph (2), to the extent that an employee covered under that paragraph receives any amount of locality-based comparability payment, the cost-of-living allowance rate under that paragraph shall be reduced accordingly, as provided under section 5941(c)(2)(B) of title 5, United States Code.

"SEC. 1916. APPLICATION TO OTHER ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES.

"(a) In General.—

"(1) Definition.—In this subsection, the term 'covered employee' means—

"(A) any employee who—

"(i) on the day before the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 28, 2009]—

     "(I) was eligible to be paid a cost-of-living allowance under 5941 of title 5, United States Code; and

     "(II) was not eligible to be paid locality-based comparability payments under 5304 or 5304a of that title; or

"(ii) on or after the date of enactment of this Act becomes eligible to be paid a cost-of-living allowance under 5941 of title 5, United States Code; or

"(B) any employee who—

"(i) on the day before the date of enactment of this Act—

     "(I) was eligible to be paid an allowance under section 1603(b) of title 10, United States Code;

     "(II) was eligible to be paid an allowance under section 1005(b) of title 39, United States Code;

     "(III) was employed by the Transportation Security Administration of the Department of Homeland Security and was eligible to be paid an allowance based on section 5941 of title 5, United States Code; or

     "(IV) was eligible to be paid under any other authority a cost-of-living allowance that is equivalent to the cost-of-living allowance under section 5941 of title 5, United States Code; or

"(ii) on or after the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 28, 2009]—

     "(I) becomes eligible to be paid an allowance under section 1603(b) of title 10, United States Code;

     "(II) becomes eligible to be paid an allowance under section 1005(b) of title 39, United States Code;

     "(III) is employed by the Transportation Security Administration of the Department of Homeland Security and becomes eligible to be paid an allowance based on section 5941 of title 5, United States Code; or

     "(IV) becomes eligible to be paid under any other authority a cost-of-living allowance that is equivalent to the cost-of-living allowance under section 5941 of title 5, United States Code.

"(2) Application to covered employees.—

"(A) In general.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for purposes of this subtitle (including the amendments made by this subtitle) any covered employee shall be treated as an employee to whom section 5941 of title 5, United States Code (as amended by section 1912 of this subtitle), and section 1914 of this subtitle apply.

"(B) Pay fixed by statute.—Pay to covered employees under section 5304 or 5304a of title 5, United States Code, as a result of the application of this subtitle shall be considered to be fixed by statute.

"(C) Performance appraisal system.—With respect to a covered employee who is subject to a performance appraisal system no part of pay attributable to locality-based comparability payments as a result of the application of this subtitle including section 5941 of title 5, United States Code (as amended by section 1912 of this subtitle), may be reduced on the basis of the performance of that employee.

"(b) Postal Employees in Non-foreign Areas.—

"(1) In general.—[Amended section 1005 of Title 39, Postal Service.]

"(2) Continuation of cost of living allowance.—

"(A) In general.—Notwithstanding any other provision of this subtitle, any employee of the Postal Service (other than an employee covered by section 1003(b) and (c) of title 39, United States Code, whose duty station is in a nonforeign area) who is paid an allowance under section 1005(b) of that title shall be treated for all purposes as if the provisions of this subtitle (including the amendments made by this subtitle) had not been enacted, except that the cost-of-living allowance rate paid to that employee—

"(i) may result in the allowance exceeding 25 percent of the rate of basic pay of that employee; and

"(ii) shall be the greater of—

     "(I) the cost-of-living allowance rate in effect on December 31, 2009 for the applicable area; or

     "(II) the applicable locality-based comparability pay percentage under section 1914.

"(B) Rule of construction.—Nothing in this subtitle shall be construed to—

"(i) provide for an employee described under subparagraph (A) to be a covered employee as defined under subsection (a); or

"(ii) authorize an employee described under subparagraph (A) to file an election under section 1917 of this subtitle.

"SEC. 1917. ELECTION OF ADDITIONAL BASIC PAY FOR ANNUITY COMPUTATION BY EMPLOYEES.

"(a) Definition.—In this section the term 'covered employee' means any employee—

"(1) to whom section 1914 applies;

"(2) who is separated from service by reason of retirement under chapter 83 or 84 of title 5, United States Code, during the period of January 1, 2010, through December 31, 2012; and

"(3) who files an election with the Office of Personnel Management under subsection (b).

"(b) Election.—

"(1) In general.—An employee described under subsection (a)(1) and (2) may file an election with the Office of Personnel Management to be covered under this section.

"(2) Deadline.—An election under this subsection may be filed not later than December 31, 2012.

"(c) Computation of Annuity.—

"(1) In general.—Except as provided under paragraph (2), for purposes of the computation of an annuity of a covered employee any cost-of-living allowance under section 5941 of title 5, United States Code, paid to that employee during the first applicable pay period beginning on or after January 1, 2010 through the first applicable pay period ending on or after December 31, 2012, shall be considered basic pay as defined under section 8331(3) or 8401(4) of that title.

"(2) Limitation.—An employee's cost-of-living allowance may be considered basic pay under paragraph (1) only to the extent that, when added to the employee's locality-based comparability payments, the resulting sum does not exceed the amount of the locality-based comparability payments the employee would have received during that period for the applicable pay area if the limitation under section 1914 did not apply.

"(d) Civil Service Retirement and Disability Retirement Fund.—

"(1) Employee contributions.—A covered employee shall pay into the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Retirement Fund—

"(A) an amount equal to the difference between—

"(i) employee contributions that would have been deducted and withheld from pay under section 8334 or 8422 of title 5, United States Code, during the period described under subsection (c) of this section if the cost-of-living allowances described under that subsection had been treated as basic pay under section 8331(3) or 8401(4) of title 5, United States Code; and

"(ii) employee contributions that were actually deducted and withheld from pay under section 8334 or 8422 of title 5, United States Code, during that period; and

"(B) interest as prescribed under section 8334(e) of title 5, United States Code, based on the amount determined under subparagraph (A).

"(2) Agency contributions.—

"(A) In general.—The employing agency of a covered employee shall pay into the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Retirement Fund an amount for applicable agency contributions based on payments made under paragraph (1).

"(B) Source.—Amounts paid under this paragraph shall be contributed from the appropriation or fund used to pay the employee.

"(3) Regulations.—The Office of Personnel Management may prescribe regulations to carry out this section.

"SEC. 1918. REGULATIONS.

"(a) In General.—The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe regulations to carry out this subtitle, including—

"(1) rules for special rate employees described under section 1913;

"(2) rules for adjusting rates of basic pay for employees in pay systems administered by the Office of Personnel Management when such employees are not entitled to locality-based comparability payments under section 5304 of title 5, United States Code, without regard to otherwise applicable statutory pay limitations during the transition period described in section 1914 ending on the first day of the first pay period beginning on or after January 1, 2012; and

"(3) rules governing establishment and adjustment of saved or retained rates for any employee whose rate of pay exceeds applicable pay limitations on the first day of the first pay period beginning on or after January 1, 2012.

"(b) Other Pay Systems.—With the concurrence of the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, the administrator of a pay system not administered by the Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe regulations to carry out this subtitle with respect to employees in such pay system, consistent with the regulations prescribed by the Office under subsection (a). With respect to employees not entitled to locality-based comparability payments under section 5304 of title 5, United States Code, regulations prescribed under this subsection may provide for special payments or adjustments for employees who were eligible to receive a cost-of-living allowance under section 5941 of that title on the date before the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 28, 2009].

"SEC. 1919. EFFECTIVE DATES.

"(a) In General.—Except as provided by subsection (b), this subtitle (including the amendments made by this subtitle) shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 28, 2009].

"(b) Locality Pay and Schedule.—The amendments made by section 1912 and the provisions of section 1914 shall take effect on the first day of the first applicable pay period beginning on or after January 1, 2010."

Comparability Payments Between 2002 and 2007; Comparisons and Recommendations; Revision of Methodology

Pub. L. 106–554, §1(a)(3) [title VI, §637], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–165, provided that:

"(a) For purposes of this section—

"(1) the term 'comparability payment' refers to a locality-based comparability payment under section 5304 of title 5, United States Code;

"(2) the term 'President's pay agent' refers to the pay agent described in section 5302(4) of such title; and

"(3) the term 'pay locality' has the meaning given such term by section 5302(5) of such title.

"(b) Notwithstanding any provision of section 5304 of title 5, United States Code, for purposes of determining appropriate pay localities and making comparability payment recommendations, the President's pay agent may, in accordance with succeeding provisions of this section, make comparisons of General Schedule pay and non-Federal pay within any of the metropolitan statistical areas described in subsection (d)(3), using—

"(1) data from surveys of the Bureau of Labor Statistics;

"(2) salary data sets obtained under subsection (c); or

"(3) any combination thereof.

"(c) To the extent necessary in order to carry out this section, the President's pay agent may obtain any salary data sets (referred to in subsection (b)) from any organization or entity that regularly compiles similar data for businesses in the private sector.

"(d)(1)(A) This paragraph applies with respect to the five metropolitan statistical areas described in paragraph (3) which—

"(i) have the highest levels of nonfarm employment (as determined based on data made available by the Bureau of Labor Statistics); and

"(ii) as of the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 21, 2000], have not previously been surveyed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (as discrete pay localities) for purposes of section 5304 of title 5, United States Code.

"(B) The President's pay agent, based on such comparisons under subsection (b) as the pay agent considers appropriate, shall: (i) determine whether any of the five areas under subparagraph (A) warrants designation as a discrete pay locality; and (ii) if so, make recommendations as to what level of comparability payments would be appropriate during 2002 for each area so determined.

"(C)(i) Any recommendations under subparagraph (B)(ii) shall be included—

"(I) in the pay agent's report under section 5304(d)(1) of title 5, United States Code, submitted for purposes of comparability payments scheduled to become payable in 2002; or

"(II) if compliance with subclause (I) is impracticable, in a supplementary report which the pay agent shall submit to the President and the Congress no later than March 1, 2001.

"(ii) In the event that the recommendations are completed in time to be included in the report described in clause (i)(I), a copy of those recommendations shall be transmitted by the pay agent to the Congress contemporaneous with their submission to the President.

"(D) Each of the five areas under subparagraph (A) that so warrants, as determined by the President's pay agent, shall be designated as a discrete pay locality under section 5304 of title 5, United States Code, in time for it to be treated as such for purposes of comparability payments becoming payable in 2002.

"(2) The President's pay agent may, at any time after the 180th day following the submission of the report under subsection (f), make any initial or further determinations or recommendations under this section, based on any pay comparisons under subsection (b), with respect to any area described in paragraph (3).

"(3) An area described in this paragraph is any metropolitan statistical area within the continental United States that (as determined based on data made available by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Office of Personnel Management, respectively) has a high level of nonfarm employment and at least 2,500 General Schedule employees whose post of duty is within such area.

"(e)(1) The authority under this section to make pay comparisons and to make any determinations or recommendations based on such comparisons shall be available to the President's pay agent only for purposes of comparability payments becoming payable on or after January 1, 2002, and before January 1, 2007, and only with respect to areas described in subsection (d)(3).

"(2) Any comparisons and recommendations so made shall, if included in the pay agent's report under section 5304(d)(1) of title 5, United States Code, for any year (or the pay agent's supplementary report, in accordance with subsection (d)(1)(C)(i)(II)), be considered and acted on as the pay agent's comparisons and recommendations under such section 5304(d)(1) for the area and the year involved.

"(f)(1) No later than March 1, 2001, the President's pay agent shall submit to the Committee on Government Reform [now Committee on Oversight and Accountability] of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Governmental Affairs [now Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs] of the Senate, and the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and of the Senate, a report on the use of pay comparison data, as described in subsection (b)(2) or (3) (as appropriate), for purposes of comparability payments.

"(2) The report shall include the cost of obtaining such data, the rationale underlying the decisions reached based on such data, and the relative advantages and disadvantages of using such data (including whether the effort involved in analyzing and integrating such data is commensurate with the benefits derived from their use). The report may include specific recommendations regarding the continued use of such data.

"(g)(1) No later than May 1, 2001, the President's pay agent shall prepare and submit to the committees specified in subsection (f)(1) a report relating to the ongoing efforts of the Office of Personnel Management, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics to revise the methodology currently being used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in performing its surveys under section 5304 of title 5, United States Code.

"(2) The report shall include a detailed accounting of any concerns the pay agent may have regarding the current methodology, the specific projects the pay agent has directed any of those agencies to undertake in order to address those concerns, and a time line for the anticipated completion of those projects and for implementation of the revised methodology.

"(3) The report shall also include recommendations as to how those ongoing efforts might be expedited, including any additional resources which, in the opinion of the pay agent, are needed in order to expedite completion of the activities described in the preceding provisions of this subsection, and the reasons why those additional resources are needed."

Freeze of Current Rate for Locality-based Comparability Adjustments

Pub. L. 106–554, §1(a)(4) [div. B, title IX, §902(b)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–304, which provided that notwithstanding any other law, no officer or member of the United States Secret Service Uniformed Division or Park Police was to be paid locality pay under section 5304 or 5304a of this title, at a percentage rate for the applicable locality in excess of the rate in effect for pay periods during calendar year 2000, ceased to be effective on the first day of the first pay period on or after Jan. 1, 2003, pursuant to Pub. L. 108–7, div. J, title VI, §643, Feb. 20, 2003, 117 Stat. 473.

Comparability Payments in 1994 and 1995

Pub. L. 103–329, title VI, §630(b), (c), Sept. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 2424, provided that:

"(b) For purposes of any locality-based comparability payments taking effect in fiscal year 1995 under subchapter I of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code (whether by adjustment or otherwise), section 5304(a) of such title shall be deemed to be without force or effect.

"(c) Notwithstanding section 5304(a)(3)(B) of title 5, United States Code, the annualized cost of pay adjustments made under section 5304 of such title in calendar year 1995 shall be equal to 0.6 percent of the estimated aggregate fiscal year 1995 executive branch civilian payroll—

"(1) as determined by the pay agent (within the meaning of section 5302 of such title); and

"(2) determined as if the rates of pay and comparability payments payable on September 30, 1994, had remained in effect."

Section 8(b) of Pub. L. 102–378 provided that: "Notwithstanding section 5304 of title 5, United States Code, for purposes of any comparability payments scheduled to take effect under such section during calendar years 1994 and 1995, respectively—

"(1) the report required by subsection (d)(1) of such section may be submitted not later than 1 month before the start of the calendar year for purposes of which it is prepared; and

"(2) the surveys conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for use in preparing any such report may be other than annual surveys, and shall, to the greatest extent practicable, be completed not later than 4 months before the start of the calendar year for purposes of which the surveys are conducted."

Interim Geographic Adjustments

Pub. L. 101–509, Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1427, 1462, as amended by Pub. L. 102–378, §3(4), Oct. 2, 1992, 106 Stat. 1356; Pub. L. 103–89, §3(b)(2), Sept. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 982, provided that:

"(a) Definitions.—For the purpose of this section—

"(1) the term 'area' means any consolidated metropolitan statistical area, primary metropolitan statistical area, or metropolitan statistical area, with at least 5,000 General Schedule employees; and

"(2) the term 'pay relative' shall have the meaning given such term under regulations prescribed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

"(b) Authority.—(1) The President may establish geographic adjustments of up to 8 percent of basic pay which may be paid to each General Schedule employee whose duty station is within any area where such adjustment is needed (as determined under paragraph (2)).

"(2) In determining areas where an interim geographic adjustment is needed, the President shall consider available evidence of significant pay disparities, including BLS information on pay relatives and relevant commercial surveys, and recruitment or retention problems.

"(c) Administration.—(1) An adjustment under this section shall be administered, to the extent practicable, in the same manner as locality-based comparability payments under subchapter I of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code (as amended by this Act), including in terms of—

"(A) the basic pay to which a percentage is applied in computing an amount payable under this section;

"(B) the purposes for which any amount under this section is to be considered part of basic pay;

"(C) the time and manner in which amounts under this section are to be paid (including any maximum rate limitation); and

"(D) the authority of the President, upon request of an agency head, to extend this section to employees who would not otherwise be covered.

"(2) No amount payable under this section shall be taken into account in any survey or computation under, or for any other purpose in the administration of, section 5304 of title 5, United States Code (as so amended).

"(d) Commencement and Termination Rules.—(1) The effective date of an adjustment under this section shall be as determined by the President, but not later than January 1, 1994.

"(2)(A) The size of any payments under this section may be reduced or terminated after the amendments made by section 101 of this Act [section 529 [title I, §101] of Pub. L. 101–509, see Tables for classification] take effect [see Effective Date of 1990 Amendment note set out under section 5301 of this title], except that the reduction or termination of a payment under this section may not have the effect of reducing, for the individual involved, the total rate at which additional forms of basic pay (as defined in subparagraph (B)) are payable to such individual.

"(B) The total rate to which subparagraph (A) applies is the sum of—

"(i) the rate at which comparability payments (under section 5304 of title 5, United States Code, as amended by such Act), are payable; and

"(ii) the rate at which payments under this section are payable.

"(e) Employees Receiving Special Pay Rates.—The President (or his designated agent) shall determine what, if any, geographic adjustment shall be payable under this section in the case of an employee whose rate of pay is fixed under section 5303 of title 5, United States Code (as in effect before the date of enactment of this Act [Nov. 5, 1990]), section 5305 of title 5, United States Code (as amended by section 101 of this Act), or any similar provision of law.

"(f) Effective Date.—This section shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act [Nov. 5, 1990]."

[Amendment by Pub. L. 103–89 to section 529 [title III, §302] of Pub. L. 101–509, set out above, effective Nov. 1, 1993, see section 3(c) of Pub. L. 103–89, set out as an Effective Date of 1993 Amendment note under section 3372 of this title.]

[Amendment by Pub. L. 102–378 to section 529 [title III, §302] of Pub. L. 101–509, set out above, effective Nov. 5, 1990, see section 9(b)(6) of Pub. L. 102–378, set out as an Effective Date of 1992 Amendment note under section 6303 of this title.]

Executive Documents

Delegation of Functions

For designation of agents of President under subsecs. (d)(1) and (h) of this section, see Ex. Ord. No. 12748, §2(a), Feb. 1, 1991, 56 F.R. 4521, eff. Feb. 3, 1991, set out as a note under section 5301 of this title.

Interim geographic adjustments pursuant to section 529 [title III, §302] of Pub. L. 101–509, set out above, were provided by the following executive orders, formerly set out as notes under section 5332 of this title, effective on the first day of first pay period beginning on or after the effective date shown:

Ex. Ord. No. 12944, Dec. 28, 1994, 60 F.R. 309, effective Jan. 1, 1995.

Ex. Ord. No. 12826, Dec. 30, 1992, 57 F.R. 62909, effective Jan. 1, 1993.

Ex. Ord. No. 12786, Dec. 26, 1991, 56 F.R. 67453, effective Jan. 1, 1992.

Ex. Ord. No. 12736, Dec. 12, 1990, 55 F.R. 51385, effective Jan. 1, 1991.

Executive Order No. 11073

Ex. Ord. No. 11073, Jan. 7, 1963, 28 F.R. 203, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 11173, Aug. 20, 1964, 29 F.R. 11999, which provided for Federal salary administration, was superseded by Ex. Ord. No. 11721, May 23, 1973, 38 F.R. 13717, formerly set out below.

Executive Order No. 11721

Ex. Ord. No. 11721, May 23, 1973, 38 F.R. 13717, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 12004, July 20, 1977, 42 F.R. 37527; Ex. Ord. No. 12107, Dec. 28, 1978, 44 F.R. 1055, which provided for administration of the Federal pay system, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 12748, Feb. 1, 1991, 56 F.R. 4521, eff. Feb. 3, 1991, set out under section 5301 of this title.

Ex. Ord. No. 12764. Federal Salary Council

Ex. Ord. No. 12764, June 5, 1991, 56 F.R. 26587, provided:

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 5304(e) of title 5, United States Code, as amended, and in order to establish, in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended ([former] 5 U.S.C. App.) [see 5 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.], an advisory committee on locality-based comparability payments for General Schedule employees, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Establishment. There is established a Federal Salary Council (the "Council"). The Council shall be composed of nine members appointed by the President in accordance with section 5304(e)(1) of title 5, United States Code. The President shall designate one of the members to serve as Chairman of the Council and shall designate another member to serve as Vice Chairman of the Council. The Vice Chairman shall act as Chairman in the absence of the Chairman.

Sec. 2. Function. The Council shall meet with the President's Pay Agent, as designated under section 2(a) of Executive Order No. 12748 of February 1, 1991 [5 U.S.C. 5301 note], to provide views and recommendations regarding:

(a) the establishment or modification of pay localities;

(b) the coverage of annual surveys conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics under subsection 5304(d)(1)(A) of title 5, United States Code (including, but not limited to, the occupations, establishment sizes, and industries to be surveyed, and how pay localities are to be surveyed);

(c) the process of comparing the rates of pay payable under the General Schedule with rates of pay for the same levels of work performed by non-Federal workers; and

(d) the level of comparability payments that should be paid in order to eliminate or reduce pay disparities in accordance with the requirements of section 5304 of title 5, United States Coce [sic].

Sec. 3. Administration. (a) Members of the Council shall receive no pay by reason of their service on the Council.

(b) To the extent permitted by law and subject to the availability of appropriations, the Office of Personnel Management (the "Office") shall provide such facilities and administrative support to the Council as the Director of the Office determines appropriate.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other Executive order, the functions of the President under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended [see 5 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.], except that of reporting to the Congress, which are applicable to the Council, shall be performed by the Director of the Office, in accordance with the guidelines and procedures established by the Administrator of General Services.

George Bush.      

Locality-Based Comparability Payments

For adjustment of locality-based comparability payments under this section, see the executive order detailing the adjustment of certain rates of pay set out as a note under section 5332 of this title.

Approvals of locality-based comparability payments recommended by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management were contained in the following:

Memorandum of President of the United States, Nov. 30, 1994, 59 F.R. 62549.

Memorandum of President of the United States, Dec. 1, 1993, 58 F.R. 64097.

1 See References in Text note below.
5 U.S.C. § 8461 (2024) — Title 5: GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES / Chapter 84 / Subchapter VI / Section 8461: Authority of the Office of Personnel Management
Authority of the Office of Personnel Management
Status: in_force

(a) The Office shall pay all benefits that are payable under subchapter II, IV, V, or VI of this chapter from the Fund.

(b) The Office shall administer all provisions of this chapter not specifically required to be administered by the Board, the Executive Director, the Secretary of Labor, or any other officer or agency.

(c) The Office shall adjudicate all claims under the provisions of this chapter administered by the Office.

(d) The Office shall determine questions of disability and dependency arising under the provisions of this chapter administered by the Office. Except to the extent provided under subsection (e), the decisions of the Office concerning these matters are final and conclusive and are not subject to review. The Office may direct at any time such medical or other examinations as it considers necessary to determine the facts concerning disability or dependency of an individual receiving or applying for annuity under the provisions of this chapter administered by the Office. The Office may suspend or deny annuity for failure to submit to examination.

(e)(1) Subject to paragraph (2), an administrative action or order affecting the rights or interests of an individual or of the United States under the provisions of this chapter administered by the Office may be appealed to the Merit Systems Protection Board under procedures prescribed by the Board.

(2) In the case of any individual found by the Office to be disabled in whole or in part on the basis of the individual's mental condition, and that finding was made pursuant to an application by an agency for purposes of disability retirement under section 8451, the procedures under section 7701 shall apply and the decision of the Board shall be subject to judicial review under section 7703.

(f) The Office shall fix the fees for examinations made under subchapter V of this chapter by physicians or surgeons who are not medical officers of the United States. The fees and reasonable traveling and other expenses incurred in connection with the examinations are paid from appropriations for the cost of administering the provisions of this chapter administered by the Office.

(g) The Office may prescribe regulations to carry out the provisions of this chapter administered by the Office.

(h)(1) Each Government agency shall furnish the Director with such information as the Director determines necessary in order to administer this chapter.

(2) The Director, in consultation with the officials from whom such information is requested, shall establish (by regulation or otherwise) such safeguards as are necessary to ensure that information made available under this subsection is used only for the purpose authorized.

(i) In making a determination of "actuarial equivalence" under this chapter, the economic assumptions used shall be the same as the economic assumptions most recently used by the Office (before the determination of actuarial equivalence involved) in determining the normal-cost percentage of the System.

(j)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the Director of Central Intelligence shall, in a manner consistent with the administration of this chapter by the Office, and to the extent considered appropriate by the Director of Central Intelligence—

(A) determine entitlement to benefits under this chapter based on the service of employees of the Central Intelligence Agency;

(B) maintain records relating to the service of such employees;

(C) compute benefits under this chapter based on the service of such employees;

(D) collect deposits to the Fund made by such employees, their spouses, their former spouses, and their survivors;

(E) authorize and direct disbursements from the Fund to the extent based on service of such employees; and

(F) perform such other functions under this chapter (other than under subchapters III and VII of this chapter) with respect to employees of the Central Intelligence Agency as the Director of Central Intelligence, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, determines to be appropriate.

(2) The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall furnish such information and, on a reimbursable basis, such services to the Director of Central Intelligence as the Director of Central Intelligence requests to carry out paragraph (1).

(k)(1) The Director of Central Intelligence, in consultation with the Executive Director of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, may—

(A) maintain exclusive records relating to elections, contributions, and accounts under the Thrift Savings Plan provided in subchapter III of this chapter in the case of employees of the Central Intelligence Agency;

(B) provide that contributions by, or on behalf of, such employees to the Thrift Savings Plan be accounted for by such Executive Director in aggregate amounts;

(C) make the necessary disbursements from, and the necessary allocations of earnings, losses, and charges to, individual accounts of such employees under the Thrift Savings Plan; and

(D) perform such other functions under subchapters III and VII of this chapter (but not including investing sums in the Thrift Savings Fund) with respect to employees of the Central Intelligence Agency as the Director of Central Intelligence, in consultation with the Executive Director of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, determines to be appropriate.

(2) The Executive Director of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board may not exercise authority under this chapter in the case of employees of the Central Intelligence Agency to the extent that the Director of Central Intelligence exercises authority provided in paragraph (1).

(3) The Executive Director of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board shall furnish such information and, on a reimbursable basis, such services to the Director of Central Intelligence as the Director of Central Intelligence determines necessary to carry out this subsection.

(l) Subsection (h)(1), and sections 8439(b) and 8474(c)(4), shall be applied with respect to information relating to employees of the Central Intelligence Agency in a manner that protects intelligence sources, methods, and activities.

(m)(1) The Director of Central Intelligence, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Personnel Management and the Executive Director of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, shall by regulation prescribe appropriate procedures to carry out subsections (j), (k), and (l).

(2) The regulations shall provide procedures for the Director of the Office of Personnel Management to inspect and audit disbursements from the Fund under this chapter.

(3) The Director of Central Intelligence shall submit the regulations prescribed under paragraph (1) to the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives before the regulations take effect.

(n)(1) Under regulations prescribed by the Office, an employee who—

(A) has not previously made an election under this subsection or had an opportunity to make an election under this paragraph; and

(B) moves, without a break in service of more than 1 year, to employment in a nonappropriated fund instrumentality of the Department of Defense or the Coast Guard, respectively, described in section 2105(c),

shall be given the opportunity to elect irrevocably, within 30 days after such move, to remain covered as an employee under this chapter during any employment described in section 2105(c) after such move.

(2) Under regulations prescribed by the Office, an employee of a nonappropriated fund instrumentality of the Department of Defense or the Coast Guard described in section 2105(c), who—

(A) has not previously made an election under this subsection or had an opportunity to make an election under this paragraph;

(B) is a participant in a retirement system established for employees described in section 2105(c);

(C) moves, without a break in service of more than 1 year, to a position that is not described by section 2105(c); and

(D) is not eligible to make an election under section 8347(q),

shall be given the opportunity to elect irrevocably, within 30 days after such move, to remain covered, during any subsequent employment as an employee as defined by section 2105(a) or section 2105(c), by the retirement system applicable to such employee's current or most recent employment described by section 2105(c) rather than be subject to this chapter.

(Added Pub. L. 99–335, title I, §101(a), June 6, 1986, 100 Stat. 570; amended Pub. L. 99–556, title I, §102, Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3131; Pub. L. 101–508, title VII, §7202(k)(2), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–339; Pub. L. 102–378, §2(71), Oct. 2, 1992, 106 Stat. 1355; Pub. L. 104–106, div. A, title X, §1043(a)(2), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 434; Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title XI, §1131(b), Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1242.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2001—Subsec. (n)(1). Pub. L. 107–107, §1131(b)(1), inserted "and" at end of subpar. (A), redesignated subpar. (C) as (B), and struck out former subpar. (B) which read as follows: "has 5 or more years of civilian service creditable under this chapter; and".

Subsec. (n)(2)(B). Pub. L. 107–107, §1131(b)(2), struck out "vested" before "participant in a retirement system" and struck out ", as the term 'vested participant' is defined by such system" before semicolon at end.

1996—Subsec. (n)(1). Pub. L. 104–106, §1043(a)(2)(A), struck out "of the Department of Defense or the Coast Guard" after "an employee" in introductory provisions and substituted "1 year" for "3 days" in subpar. (C).

Subsec. (n)(2)(C). Pub. L. 104–106, §1043(a)(2)(B), substituted "1 year" for "3 days" and struck out "in the Department of Defense or the Coast Guard, respectively," after "to a position".

1992—Subsec. (n)(1)(A), (2)(A). Pub. L. 102–378, §2(71)(A), amended subpars. (A) generally. Prior to amendment, subpars. (A) read as follows: "has not previously made or had an opportunity to make an election under this subsection;".

Subsec. (n)(2)(D). Pub. L. 102–378, §2(71)(B), substituted "8347(q)" for "8347(p)".

1990—Subsec. (n). Pub. L. 101–508 added subsec. (n).

1986—Subsec. (m)(2). Pub. L. 99–556 struck out ", and from the Thrift Savings Fund," after "from the Fund".

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Reference to the Director of Central Intelligence or the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency in the Director's capacity as the head of the intelligence community deemed to be a reference to the Director of National Intelligence. Reference to the Director of Central Intelligence or the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency in the Director's capacity as the head of the Central Intelligence Agency deemed to be a reference to the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. See section 1081(a), (b) of Pub. L. 108–458, set out as a note under section 3001 of Title 50, War and National Defense.

Effective Date of 1996 Amendment

For effective date of amendments by Pub. L. 104–106, see Regulations; Effective Date of 1996 Amendment note below.

Effective Date of 1992 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 102–378 effective Nov. 5, 1990, see section 9(b)(6) of Pub. L. 102–378, set out as a note under section 6303 of this title.

Effective Date of 1990 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 101–508 applicable with respect to any individual who, on or after Jan. 1, 1987, moves from employment in nonappropriated fund instrumentality of Department of Defense or Coast Guard, that is described in section 2105(c) of this title, to employment in Department or Coast Guard, that is not described in section 2105(c), or who moves from employment in Department or Coast Guard, that is not described in section 2105(c), to employment in nonappropriated fund instrumentality of Department or Coast Guard, that is described in section 2105(c), see section 7202(m)(1) of Pub. L. 101–508, set out as a note under section 2105 of this title.

Regulations; Effective Date of 1996 Amendment

For provisions relating to promulgation of regulations necessary to carry out amendment by Pub. L. 104–106, and effective date of such amendment in connection with those regulations, see section 1043(b), (c) of Pub. L. 104–106, set out as a note under section 8347 of this title.

Transfer of Functions

For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 468(b), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.

Treatment of Individuals Electing To Remain Subject to Their Former Retirement System

For provisions relating to the deductions and contributions required with respect to individuals electing under section 8347(q) or 8461(n) of this title to remain covered under subchapter III of chapter 83 of this title, chapter 84 of this title, or a retirement system for employees described in section 2105(c) of this title, see section 7202(n) of Pub. L. 101–508, set out as a note under section 2105 of this title.
5 U.S.C. § 5361 (2024) — Title 5: GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES / Chapter 53 / Subchapter VI / Section 5361: Definitions
Definitions
Status: in_force

For the purpose of this subchapter—

(1) "employee" means an employee to whom chapter 51 of this title applies, and a prevailing rate employee, as defined by section 5342(a)(2) of this title, whose employment is other than on a temporary or term basis;

(2) "agency" has the meaning given it by section 5102 of this title;

(3) "retained grade" means the grade used for determining benefits to which an employee to whom section 5362 of this title applies is entitled;

(4) "rate of basic pay" means—

(A) the rate of basic pay payable to an employee under law or regulations before any deductions or additions of any kind, but including—

(i) any applicable locality-based comparability payment under section 5304 or similar provision of law;

(ii) any applicable special pay under section 5305 or similar provision of law; and

(iii) subject to such regulations as the Office of Personnel Management may prescribe, any applicable existing retained rate of pay established under section 5363 or similar provision of law; and

(B) in the case of a prevailing rate employee, the scheduled rate of pay determined under section 5343;

(5) "covered pay schedule" means the General Schedule, any prevailing rate schedule established under subchapter IV of this chapter, or a special occupational pay system under subchapter IX;

(6) "position subject to this subchapter" means any position under a covered pay schedule;

(7) "reduction-in-force procedures" means procedures applied in carrying out any reduction in force due to a reorganization, due to lack of funds or curtailment of work, or due to any other factor; and

(8) "retained rate" means the rate of basic pay to which an employee is entitled under section 5363(b)(2).

(Added Pub. L. 95–454, title VIII, §801(a)(1), Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1218; amended Pub. L. 98–615, title II, §204(a)(2), Nov. 8, 1984, 98 Stat. 3216; Pub. L. 101–509, title V, §529 [title I, §105(b)(1)], Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1427, 1448; Pub. L. 103–89, §3(b)(1)(J), Sept. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 982; Pub. L. 108–411, title III, §301(a)(4), Oct. 30, 2004, 118 Stat. 2315.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The General Schedule, referred to in par. (5), is set out under section 5332 of this title.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 5361, Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 473, which related to scientific and professional positions, was renumbered section 5371 of this title by Pub. L. 95–454, title VIII, §801(a)(3)(A)(ii), Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1221.

Amendments

2004—Par. (4). Pub. L. 108–411, §301(a)(4)(A), amended par. (4) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (4) read as follows: " 'rate of basic pay' means, in the case of a prevailing rate employee, the scheduled rate of pay determined under section 5343 of this title;".

Par. (8). Pub. L. 108–411, §301(a)(4)(B)–(D), added par. (8).

1993—Par. (5). Pub. L. 103–89 substituted "or a special occupational pay system under subchapter IX" for "a special occupational pay system under subchapter IX, or the performance management and recognition system under chapter 54 of this title".

1990—Par. (5). Pub. L. 101–509 inserted "a special occupational pay system under subchapter IX," before "or the performance".

1984—Par. (5). Pub. L. 98–615 substituted "performance management and recognition system" for "merit pay system".

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2004 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 108–411 effective on the first day of the first applicable pay period beginning on or after the 180th day after Oct. 30, 2004, with provisions relating to conversion rules, see section 301(d) of Pub. L. 108–411, set out as a note under section 5363 of this title.

Effective Date of 1993 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 103–89 effective Nov. 1, 1993, see section 3(c) of Pub. L. 103–89, set out as a note under section 3372 of this title.

Effective Date of 1990 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 101–509 effective on such date as the President shall determine, but not earlier than 90 days, and not later than 180 days, after Nov. 5, 1990, see section 529 [title III, §305] of Pub. L. 101–509, set out as a note under section 5301 of this title.

Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Pub. L. 98–615, title II, §205, Nov. 8, 1984, 98 Stat. 3217, provided that amendment by Pub. L. 98–615 was effective Oct. 1, 1984, and applicable with respect to pay periods commencing on or after that date, with certain exceptions and qualifications.

Effective Date

Pub. L. 95–454, title VIII, §801(a)(4), Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1222, provided that:

"(A) The amendments made by this subsection [enacting sections 5361 to 5366 of this title and redesignating former sections 5361 to 5366 as sections 5371 to 5375 of this title, amending sections 559, 1305, 3104, 5102, 5107, 5334, 5349, and 8704 of this title, sections 4540, 7212, and 9540 of Title 10, Armed Forces, section 1715 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade, and section 3608 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, and repealing sections 5337 and 5345 of this title] shall take effect on the first day of the first applicable pay period beginning on or after the 90th day after the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 13, 1978].

"(B) An employee who was receiving pay under the provisions of section 5334(d), 5337, or 5345 of title 5, United States Code, on the day before the effective date prescribed in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph shall not have such pay reduced or terminated by reason of the amendments made by this subsection and, unless section 5362 of such title 5 (as amended by subsection (a)(1) of this section) applies, such an employee is entitled to continue to receive pay as authorized by those provisions (as in effect on such date)."
5 U.S.C. § 5102 (2024) — Title 5: GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES / Chapter 51 / Section 5102: Definitions; application
Definitions; application
Status: in_force

(a) For the purpose of this chapter—

(1) "agency" means—

(A) an Executive agency;

(B) the Library of Congress;

(C) the Botanic Garden;

(D) the Government Publishing Office;

(E) the Office of the Architect of the Capitol; and

(F) the government of the District of Columbia;

but does not include—

(i) a Government controlled corporation;

(ii) the Tennessee Valley Authority;

(iii) the Virgin Islands Corporation;

(iv) the Atomic Energy Commission;

(v) the Central Intelligence Agency;

(vi) the National Security Agency, Department of Defense;

(vii) the Government Accountability Office;

(viii) the Office of the Director of National Intelligence;

(ix) the Defense Intelligence Agency, Department of Defense; or

(x) the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Department of Defense;

(2) "employee" means an individual employed in or under an agency;

(3) "position" means the work, consisting of the duties and responsibilities, assignable to an employee;

(4) "class" or "class of positions" includes all positions which are sufficiently similar, as to—

(A) kind or subject-matter of work;

(B) level of difficulty and responsibility; and

(C) the qualification requirements of the work;

to warrant similar treatment in personnel and pay administration; and

(5) "grade" includes all classes of positions which, although different with respect to kind or subject-matter of work, are sufficiently equivalent as to—

(A) level of difficulty and responsibility; and

(B) level of qualification requirements of the work;

to warrant their inclusion within one range of rates of basic pay in the General Schedule.

(b) Except as provided by subsections (c) and (d) of this section, this chapter applies to all civilian positions and employees in or under an agency, including positions in local boards and appeal boards within the Selective Service System and employees occupying those positions.

(c) This chapter does not apply to—

[ (1) Repealed. Pub. L. 91–375, §6(c)(9), Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 776;]

(2) members of the Foreign Service whose pay is fixed under the Foreign Service Act of 1980; and positions in or under the Department of State which are—

(A) connected with the representation of the United States to international organizations; or

(B) specifically exempted by statute from this chapter or other classification or pay statute;

(3) physicians, dentists, nurses, and other employees in the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs whose pay is fixed under chapter 73 of title 38;

(4) teachers, school officials, and employees of the Board of Education of the District of Columbia whose pay is fixed under chapter 15 of title 31, District of Columbia Code; the chief judges and the associate judges of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia and the District of Columbia Court of Appeals; and nonjudicial employees of the District of Columbia court system whose pay is fixed under title 11 of the District of Columbia Code;

(5) members of the Metropolitan Police, the Fire Department of the District of Columbia, the United States Park Police, and the United States Secret Service Uniformed Division; members of the police force of the National Zoological Park whose pay is fixed under section 5375 of this title; and members of the police forces of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and the United States Mint whose pay is fixed under section 5378 of this title;

(6) lighthouse keepers and civilian employees on lightships and vessels of the Coast Guard whose pay is fixed under section 432(f) and (g) 1 of title 14;

(7) employees in recognized trades or crafts, or other skilled mechanical crafts, or in unskilled, semiskilled, or skilled manual-labor occupations, and other employees including foremen and supervisors in positions having trade, craft, or laboring experience and knowledge as the paramount requirement, and employees in the Bureau of Engraving and Printing whose duties are to perform or to direct manual or machine operations requiring special skill or experience, or to perform or direct the counting, examining, sorting, or other verification of the product of manual or machine operations;

(8) officers and members of crews of vessels;

(9) employees of the Government Publishing Office whose pay is fixed under section 305 of title 44;

(10) civilian professors, instructors, and lecturers at a professional military education school (and, in the case of the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, the Director and the Deputy Director) whose pay is fixed under section 1595, 7371, 8748, or 9371 of title 10; civilian professors, lecturers, and instructors at the Military Academy, the Naval Academy, and the Air Force Academy whose pay is fixed under sections 7438, 8452, and 9438, respectively, of title 10; senior professors, professors, associate and assistant professors, and instructors at the Naval Postgraduate School whose pay is fixed under section 8544 of title 10; the Provost and Academic Dean of the Naval Postgraduate School 2 whose pay is fixed under section 8543 of title 10; civilian professors, instructors, and lecturers in the defense acquisition university structure (including the Defense Systems Management College) whose pay is fixed under section 1746(b) of title 10;

(11) aliens or noncitizens of the United States who occupy positions outside the United States;

[(12) Repealed. Pub. L. 104–201, div. C, title XXXV, §3548(a)(2)(B), Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2868;]

(13) employees who serve without pay or at nominal rates of pay;

(14) employees whose pay is not wholly from appropriated funds of the United States (other than employees of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Management System appointed under section 8474(c)(2) of this title), except that with respect to the Veterans' Canteen Service, Department of Veterans Affairs, this paragraph applies only to employees necessary for the transaction of the business of the Service at canteens, warehouses, and storage depots whose employment is authorized by section 7802 of title 38;

(15) employees whose pay is fixed under a cooperative agreement between the United States and—

(A) a State or territory or possession of the United States, or political subdivision thereof; or

(B) an individual or organization outside the service of the Government of the United States;

(16) student nurses, medical or dental interns, residents-in-training, student dietitians, student physical therapists, student occupational therapists, and other student employees, assigned or attached to a hospital, clinic, or laboratory primarily for training purposes, whose pay is fixed under subchapter V of chapter 53 of this title or sections 7405 and 7406 of title 38;

(17) inmates, patients, or beneficiaries receiving care or treatment or living in Government agencies or institutions;

(18) experts or consultants, when employed temporarily or intermittently in accordance with section 3109 of this title;

(19) emergency or seasonal employees whose employment is of uncertain or purely temporary duration, or who are employed for brief periods at intervals;

(20) employees employed on a fee, contract, or piece work basis;

(21) employees who may lawfully perform their duties concurrently with their private profession, business, or other employment, and whose duties require only a portion of their time, when it is impracticable to ascertain or anticipate the proportion of time devoted to the service of the Government of the United States;

(22) "teachers" and "teaching positions" as defined by section 901 of title 20;

(23) administrative patent judges and designated administrative patent judges in the United States Patent and Trademark Office;

(24) temporary positions in the Bureau of the Census established under section 23 of title 13, and enumerator positions in the Bureau of the Census;

(25) positions for which rates of basic pay are individually fixed, or expressly authorized to be fixed, by other statute, at or in excess of the rate for level V of the Executive Schedule;

(26) civilian members of the faculty of the Coast Guard Academy whose pay is fixed under section 186 of title 14;

(27) members of the police of the Library of Congress whose pay is fixed under section 167 of title 2;

(28) civilian members of the faculty of the Air Force Institute of Technology whose pay is fixed under section 9414 of title 10;

(29) administrative law judges appointed under section 3105; or

(30) members of agency boards of contract appeals appointed under section 7105(a)(2), (c)(2), or (d)(2) of title 41.

(d) This chapter does not apply to an employee of the Office of the Architect of the Capitol whose pay is fixed by other statute. Subsection (c) of this section, except paragraph (7), does not apply to the Office of the Architect of the Capitol.

(e) Except as may be specifically provided, this chapter does not apply for pay purposes to any employee of the government of the District of Columbia during fiscal year 2006 or any succeeding fiscal year.

(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 444; Pub. L. 90–83, §1(11), Sept. 11, 1967, 81 Stat. 197; Pub. L. 90–610, §2, Oct. 21, 1968, 82 Stat. 1201; Pub. L. 91–34, §2(a), June 30, 1969, 83 Stat. 41; Pub. L. 91–358, title I, §172(f), July 29, 1970, 84 Stat. 591; Pub. L. 91–375, §6(c)(9), Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 776; Pub. L. 93–176, §1, Dec. 5, 1973, 87 Stat. 693; Pub. L. 94–183, §2(12), (13), Dec. 31, 1975, 89 Stat. 1057; Pub. L. 95–454, title VIII, §801(a)(3)(D), title IX, §906(a)(2), Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1221, 1224; Pub. L. 96–54, §2(a)(22), Aug. 14, 1979, 93 Stat. 382; Pub. L. 96–70, title III, §3302(e)(1), (6), Sept. 27, 1979, 93 Stat. 498; Pub. L. 96–191, §8(b), Feb. 15, 1980, 94 Stat. 33; Pub. L. 96–465, title II, §2314(b), Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2167; Pub. L. 97–468, title VI, §615(b)(1)(C), Jan. 14, 1983, 96 Stat. 2578; Pub. L. 98–618, title V, §502(a), Nov. 8, 1984, 98 Stat. 3302; Pub. L. 99–145, title V, §504(b), Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 622; Pub. L. 99–335, title II, §207(n), June 6, 1986, 100 Stat. 598; Pub. L. 100–135, §1(b)(2), Oct. 16, 1987, 101 Stat. 811; Pub. L. 101–189, div. A, title XI, §1124(e), Nov. 29, 1989, 103 Stat. 1560; Pub. L. 101–474, §5(h), Oct. 30, 1990, 104 Stat. 1100; Pub. L. 101–509, title V, §529 [title I, §§101(b)(9)(F), 104(d)(1), 109(a)(2)], Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1427, 1441, 1447, 1451; Pub. L. 101–510, div. A, title XII, §1209(h)(2), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1667; Pub. L. 102–40, title IV, §403(c)(1), May 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 240; Pub. L. 102–54, §13(b)(1), (2), June 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 274; Pub. L. 103–160, div. A, title V, §533(c), title IX, §923(b), Nov. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 1658, 1731; Pub. L. 103–359, title V, §501(g), Oct. 14, 1994, 108 Stat. 3429; Pub. L. 103–446, title XII, §1203(b), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4689; Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title XI, §1122(a)(1), div. C, title XXXV, §3548(a)(2), Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2687, 2868; Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, §1000(a)(9) [title IV, §4732(b)(3)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–583; Pub. L. 108–271, §8(b), July 7, 2004, 118 Stat. 814; Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title V, §557(b)(5), Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 1916; Pub. L. 109–356, title III, §303(b), Oct. 16, 2006, 120 Stat. 2040; Pub. L. 110–417, [div. A], title IX, §931(a)(1), Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4575; Pub. L. 111–282, §4(c)(1), Oct. 15, 2010, 124 Stat. 3043; Pub. L. 111–350, §5(a)(8), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3841; Pub. L. 113–235, div. H, title I, §1301(b), Dec. 16, 2014, 128 Stat. 2537; Pub. L. 114–113, div. M, title IV, §402, Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 2921; Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, §809(c)(1), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1841.)

Historical and Revision Notes
1966 Act

DerivationU.S. CodeRevised Statutes and 
Statutes at Large

(a)(1) 
5 U.S.C. 1081(a). 
Oct. 28, 1949, ch. 782, §201(a), 63 Stat. 954.

  
5 U.S.C. 1082(12)–(20), (32). 
Oct. 28, 1949, ch. 782, §202 (12)–(20), 63 Stat. 954.

  
 
May 29, 1959, Pub. L. 86–36, §1, 73 Stat. 63.

  
 
Sept. 23, 1959, Pub. L. 86–370, §6(a) (less (4)), 73 Stat. 652.

(a)(3)–(5) 
5 U.S.C. 1091. 
Oct. 28, 1949, ch. 782, §301, 63 Stat. 957.

(b) 
5 U.S.C. 1081(b). 
Oct. 28, 1949, ch. 782, §201(b), 63 Stat. 954.

(c) 
5 U.S.C. 1082(1)–(6), (7) (less provisos), (8) (less last 31 words), (9)–(11), (21)–(31), (33)–(35). 
Oct. 28, 1949, ch. 782, §202 (1)–(6), (7) (less last 25 words), (8) (less last 31 words), (9)–(11), (21)–(31), 63 Stat. 954.
Sept. 1, 1954, ch. 1208, §105(a) "(7) (less provisos)", 68 Stat. 1106.

  
 
June 17, 1957, Pub. L. 85–56, §2201(20), 71 Stat. 159.

  
 
July 25, 1958, Pub. L. 85–550, §16(a), (b)(1), 72 Stat. 411.

  
 
Sept. 2, 1958, Pub. L. 85–857, §13(o), 72 Stat. 1266.

  
 
July 17, 1959, Pub. L. 86–91, §3, 73 Stat. 213.

  
 
Sept. 23, 1959, Pub. L. 86–370, §6(a)(4), 73 Stat. 652.

  
 
Sept. 13, 1960, Pub. L. 86–769, §4, 74 Stat. 912.

(d) 
5 U.S.C. 1084(b). 
Oct. 28, 1949, ch. 782, §204(b), 63 Stat. 957.

The section is reorganized and restated for clarity.

In subsection (a)(1)(i), the exception of "a Government controlled corporation" is added to preserve the application of this chapter to "corporations wholly owned by the United States". This is necessary as the defined term "Executive agency" includes the defined term "Government corporation" and the latter includes both Government owned and controlled corporations. Thus the exclusion of Government controlled corporations, which are distinct from wholly owned corporations, operates to preserve the application of the chapter to wholly owned corporations.

In subsection (a)(1)(vii), the words "Panama Canal Company" are substituted for "Panama Railroad Company" on authority of the Act of Sept. 26, 1950, ch. 1049, §2(a)(2), 64 Stat. 1038.

The exception for the Inland Waterways Corporation in former section 1082(13) is omitted on authority of the Act of July 19, 1963, Pub. L. 88–67, 77 Stat. 81.

The exceptions for Production Credit Corporations and Federal Intermediate Credit Banks in former section 1082(18) and (19) are omitted as they are no longer "corporations wholly owned by the United States". Under the Farm Credit Act of 1956, 70 Stat. 659, the Production Credit Corporations were merged in the Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, and pursuant to that Act the Federal Intermediate Credit Banks have ceased to be corporations wholly owned by the United States.

Subsection (a)(2) is added for clarity. The reference to "an individual employed in or under an agency" includes both officers and employees of an agency.

In subsection (a)(5), the words "in the General Schedule" are substituted for the reference in former section 1091(3) to "as specified in subchapter V of this chapter".

In subsection (b), the reference to former section 1085 is omitted as unnecessary. Former section 1085 which exempted certain agencies from former sections 1151–1153 is carried into section 305.

In subsection (c)(1), the words "chapter 45 of title 39" are substituted for the reference in former section 1082(1) to "chapter 23 of title 39" on authority of the Act of July 10, 1955, ch. 137, §805, 69 Stat. 130, and the Act of Sept. 2, 1960, Pub. L. 86–682, §5, 74 Stat. 705.

In subsection (c)(2)(B), the words "this chapter" are substituted for the reference in former section 1082(2)(B) to "the Classification Act of 1923, as amended," on authority of section 1106 of the Act of Oct. 28, 1949, 63 Stat. 972, and technical section 7(b).

In subsection (c)(4), the words "chapter 15 of title 31, District of Columbia Code" are substituted for the reference in former section 1082(4) to "the District of Columbia Teachers Salary Act of 1947, as supplemented by Public Law 151, Eighty-first Congress, approved June 30, 1949" on authority of the provisions contained therein. The words "District of Columbia Court of General Sessions" and "District of Columbia Court of Appeals" are substituted for "Municipal Court for the District of Columbia" and "Municipal Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia", respectively, on authority of D.C. Code §§11–902 and 11–702. The exception for judges of the Juvenile Court of the District of Columbia is based on D.C. Code §11–1502.

In subsection (c)(5), the word "officers" is omitted as included in "member".

In subsection (c)(10), the words "sections 6952 and 7478 of title 10", "section 7044 of title 10", and "section 7043 of title 10" are substituted for the references in former section 1082(10) to "section 1071 of title 34", "sections 1076–1076f of title 34", and "section 1074 of title 34", respectively, on authority of the Act of Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, §49(b), 70A Stat. 640.

In subsection (c)(11), the words "the United States" are substituted for "the several States and the District of Columbia".

In subsection (c)(14), the words "employees necessary for the transaction of the business of the Service at canteens, warehouses, and storage depots whose employment is authorized by section 4202 of title 38" are substituted for the reference in former section 1082(23) to "positions which are exempt from this chapter, pursuant to section 4202 of title 38".

In subsection (c)(16), the reference to "section 4114 of title 38" is substituted for the reference in former section 1082(25) to "section 4114(b) of title 38" to reflect the pay fixing authority contained in subsection (a)(1) of section 4114.

In subsection (c)(22), the words "as defined by section 901 of title 20" are substituted for "as defined in the Defense Department Overseas Teachers Pay and Personnel Practices Act" on authority of former section 2351, which is scheduled for transfer to section 901 of title 20.

In subsection (c)(25), the word "schedule" is omitted since section 603 of the Act of Oct. 11, 1962, Pub. L. 87–793, 76 Stat. 847, eliminated the necessity of referring to rates as scheduled or longevity. The words "for GS–18" are substituted for "of the highest grade established by this chapter".

The second sentence of subsection (d) is based on former section 1084(c), which is carried into section 5103.

Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.

1967 Act

Section of title 5Source (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large)

5102(c)(26) 
5 App.: 1082(36). 
June 9, 1966, Pub. L. 89–444, §4, 80 Stat. 198.

The amendment to 5 U.S.C. 5102(c)(15) is made to correct a typographical error.

The amendment to 5 U.S.C. 5102(c)(26) reflects Public Law 89–444, section 4.

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The General Schedule, referred to in subsec. (a)(5), is set out under section 5332 of this title.

The Foreign Service Act of 1980, referred to in subsec. (c)(2), is Pub. L. 96–465, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2071, which is classified principally to chapter 52 (§3901 et seq.) of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 3901 of Title 22 and Tables.

Section 432 of title 14, referred to in subsec. (c)(6), was redesignated section 2531 of title 14 by Pub. L. 115–282, title I, §114(b), Dec. 4, 2018, 132 Stat. 4223, and references to section 432 of title 14 deemed to refer to such redesignated section, see section 123(b)(1) of Pub. L. 115–282, set out as a References to Sections of Title 14 as Redesignated by Pub. L. 115–282 note preceding section 101 of Title 14, Coast Guard.

Level V of the Executive Schedule, referred to in subsec. (c)(25), is set out in section 5316 of this title.

Amendments

2018—Subsec. (c)(10). Pub. L. 115–232, §809(c)(1)(A), substituted "section 1595, 7371, 8748, or 9371 of title 10" for "section 1595, 4021, 7478, or 9021 of title 10", "sections 7438, 8452, and 9438, respectively, of title 10" for "sections 4338, 6952, and 9338, respectively, of title 10", "section 8544 of title 10" for "section 7044 of title 10", and "section 8543 of title 10" for "section 7043 of title 10".

Subsec. (c)(28). Pub. L. 115–232, §809(c)(1)(B), substituted "section 9414 of title 10" for "section 9314 of title 10".

2015—Subsec. (a)(1)(vii), (viii), (x). Pub. L. 114–113 struck out "or" at end of cl. (vii), added cl. (viii), and substituted semicolon for period at end of cl. (x).

2011—Subsec. (c)(30). Pub. L. 111–350 substituted "section 7105(a)(2), (c)(2), or (d)(2) of title 41" for "section 8 of the Contract Disputes Act of 1978".

2010—Subsec. (c)(5). Pub. L. 111–282 substituted "the United States Secret Service Uniformed Division" for "the Executive Protective Service".

2008—Subsec. (a)(1)(x). Pub. L. 110–417 substituted "National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency" for "National Imagery and Mapping Agency".

2006—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 109–356 added subsec. (e).

2004—Subsec. (a)(1)(vii). Pub. L. 108–271 substituted "Government Accountability Office" for "General Accounting Office".

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 108–375, §557(b)(5)(B), which directed amendment of subsec. (b) by substituting "Provost and Academic Dean" for "Academic Dean", could not be executed because the words "Academic Dean" did not appear.

Subsec. (c)(10). Pub. L. 108–375, §557(b)(5)(A), substituted "Provost and Academic Dean of the Naval Postgraduate School" for "Academic Dean of the Postgraduate School of the Naval Academy".

1999—Subsec. (c)(23). Pub. L. 106–113 amended par. (23) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (23) read as follows: "examiners-in-chief and designated examiners-in-chief in the Patent and Trademark Office, Department of Commerce;".

1996—Subsec. (a)(1)(vi), (vii). Pub. L. 104–201, §3548(a)(2)(A), redesignated cls. (vii) and (viii) as (vi) and (vii), respectively, and struck out former cl. (vi) which read as follows: "the Panama Canal Commission;".

Subsec. (a)(1)(viii). Pub. L. 104–201, §3548(a)(2)(A)(ii), which directed redesignation of cl. (ix) as (viii) could not be executed because subsec. (a)(1) did not contain a cl. (ix). See 1983 Amendment note below. Former cl. (viii) redesignated (vii).

Subsec. (a)(1)(ix), (x). Pub. L. 104–201, §3548(a)(2)(A)(ii), redesignated cls. (x) and (xi) as (ix) and (x), respectively.

Subsec. (a)(1)(xi). Pub. L. 104–201, §3548(a)(2)(A)(ii), redesignated cl. (xi) as (x).

Pub. L. 104–201, §1122(a)(1), substituted "National Imagery and Mapping Agency" for "Central Imagery Office".

Subsec. (c)(12). Pub. L. 104–201, §3548(a)(2)(B), struck out par. (12) which read as follows: "any Executive agency to the extent of any election under section 1212(b)(2) (relating to the Panama Canal Employment System) of the Panama Canal Act of 1979;".

1994—Subsec. (a)(1)(ix) to (xi). Pub. L. 103–359 directed the amendment of cl. (ix) by striking "or" at end which could not be executed because par. (1) does not contain a cl. (ix), directed the substitution of "; or" for period at end of cl. (x) which was executed by inserting "or" at end of cl. (x) to reflect the probable intent of Congress because a semicolon already exists at end of cl. (x), and added cl. (xi).

Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 103–446 struck out comma after "Department of Veterans Affairs".

1993—Subsec. (c)(10). Pub. L. 103–160, §923(b), inserted "(and, in the case of the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, the Director and the Deputy Director)" after "professional military education school".

Pub. L. 103–160, §533(c), substituted "at the Military Academy, the Naval Academy, and the Air Force Academy whose pay is fixed under sections 4338, 6952, and 9338, respectively, of title 10" for "at the Naval Academy whose pay is fixed under section 6952 of title 10".

1991—Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 102–54, §13(b)(2), substituted "Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs" for "Department of Medicine and Surgery, Veterans' Administration".

Subsec. (c)(14). Pub. L. 102–54, §13(b)(1), substituted "Department of Veterans Affairs" for "Veterans' Administration".

Pub. L. 102–40, §403(c)(1)(A), substituted "section 7802 of title 38" for "section 4202 of title 38".

Subsec. (c)(16). Pub. L. 102–40, §403(c)(1)(B), substituted "sections 7405 and 7406" for "section 4114".

1990—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 101–474 redesignated subpars. (C) to (G) as (B) to (F), respectively, and struck out former subpar. (B) which included Administrative Office of United States Courts within definition of "agency".

Subsec. (c)(5). Pub. L. 101–509, §529 [title I, §109(a)(2)], substituted "members" for "and members" after "Protective Service;" and inserted at end "and members of the police forces of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and the United States Mint whose pay is fixed under section 5378 of this title;".

Subsec. (c)(10). Pub. L. 101–510 struck out "and" before "the Academic Dean" and inserted at end "civilian professors, instructors, and lecturers in the defense acquisition university structure (including the Defense Systems Management College) whose pay is fixed under section 1746(b) of title 10;".

Subsec. (c)(25). Pub. L. 101–509, §529 [title I, §101(b)(9)(F)], substituted "rate for level V of the Executive Schedule" for "maximum rate for GS–18".

Subsec. (c)(29), (30). Pub. L. 101–509, §529 [title I, §104(d)(1)], added pars. (29) and (30).

1989—Subsec. (c)(10). Pub. L. 101–189 inserted "civilian professors, instructors, and lecturers at a professional military education school whose pay is fixed under section 1595, 4021, 7478, or 9021 of title 10;", struck out "the Naval War College and" after "instructors at", and substituted "section 6952" for "sections 6952 and 7478".

1987—Subsec. (c)(27). Pub. L. 100–135 substituted "police" for "special police force".

1986—Subsec. (c)(14). Pub. L. 99–335 inserted "(other than employees of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment System appointed under section 8474(c)(2) of this title)".

1985—Subsec. (c)(28). Pub. L. 99–145 added par. (28).

1984—Subsec. (a)(1)(viii) to (x). Pub. L. 98–618 struck out "or" at end of cl. (viii), inserted "or" at end of cl. (ix), and added cl. (x).

1983—Subsec. (a)(1)(iii) to (ix). Pub. L. 97–468, eff. Jan. 5, 1985, struck out cl. (iii) which excluded the Alaska Railroad and redesignated cls. (iv) to (ix) as (iii) to (viii), respectively. See Effective Date of 1983 Amendment note below.

1980—Subsec. (a)(1)(ix). Pub. L. 96–191 added cl. (ix).

Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 96–465 substituted "members of the Foreign Service whose pay is fixed under the Foreign Service Act of 1980" for "employees in the Foreign Service of the United States whose pay is fixed under chapter 14 of title 22".

1979—Subsec. (a)(1)(vii). Pub. L. 96–70, §3302(e)(1), substituted "Commission" for "Company".

Subsec. (c)(12). Pub. L. 96–70, §3302(e)(6), substituted provisions relating to any Executive agency to the extent of any election under section 1212(b)(2) of the Panama Canal Act of 1979 for provisions relating to employees of an agency who are stationed in the Canal Zone or in the Republic of Panama.

Subsec. (c)(23). Pub. L. 96–54 inserted "and Trademark" after "Patent".

1978—Subsec. (c)(5). Pub. L. 95–454, §801(a)(3)(D), substituted "5375" for "5365".

Subsec. (c)(12)(B). Pub. L. 95–454, §906(a)(2), substituted "Office of Personnel Management" for "Civil Service Commission".

1975—Subsec. (c)(5). Pub. L. 94–183, §2(12), substituted "Executive Protective Service" for "White House Police".

Subsec. (c)(9). Pub. L. 94–183, §2(13), substituted "305" for "40".

1973—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 93–176 extended this chapter to include positions in local boards and appeal boards within the Selective Service System and employees occupying those positions.

1970—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 91–375 repealed provision declaring this chapter inapplicable to employees in the postal field service whose pay is fixed under chapter 45 of title 39.

Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 91–358 expanded reference to include chief judges, substituted reference to the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for references to the District of Columbia Court of General Sessions and the Juvenile Court of the District of Columbia, and provided that chapter not apply to nonjudicial employees of the District of Columbia court system whose pay is fixed under title 11 of the District of Columbia Code.

1969—Subsec. (c)(5). Pub. L. 91–34 extended provisions to include members of the National Zoological Park police force whose pay is fixed under section 5365 of this title.

1968—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 90–610 inserted par. (27).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Position of Provost and Academic Dean of the Naval Postgraduate School now known as Provost and Chief Academic Officer. See section 8543 of Title 10, Armed Forces, as amended by Pub. L. 117–263, div. A, title V, §554(a)(1)(A), (2)(A), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 2594.

"Government Publishing Office" substituted for "Government Printing Office" in subsecs. (a)(1)(D) and (c)(9) on authority of section 1301(b) of Pub. L. 113–235, set out as a note preceding section 301 of Title 44, Public Printing and Documents.

Effective Date of 2018 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 115–232 effective Feb. 1, 2019, with provision for the coordination of amendments and special rule for certain redesignations, see section 800 of Pub. L. 115–232, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of Title 10, Armed Forces.

Effective Date of 2010 Amendment

Pub. L. 111–282, §5, Oct. 15, 2010, 124 Stat. 3044, provided that: "This Act [enacting chapter 102 of this title, amending this section and sections 5541, 6304, and 6324 of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under section 10201 of this title, and amending provisions set out as notes under section 3056A of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure] and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the first day of the first pay period which begins after the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 15, 2010]."

Effective Date of 1999 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 106–113 effective 4 months after Nov. 29, 1999, see section 1000(a)(9) [title IV, §4731] of Pub. L. 106–113, set out as a note under section 1 of Title 35, Patents.

Effective Date of 1996 Amendment

Amendment by section 1122(a)(1) of Pub. L. 104–201 effective Oct. 1, 1996, see section 1124 of Pub. L. 104–201, set out as a note under section 193 of Title 10, Armed Forces.

Effective Date of 1990 Amendment

Amendment by section 529 [title I, §§101(b)(9)(F), 104(d)(1)] of Pub. L. 101–509 effective on such date as the President shall determine, but not earlier than 90 days, and not later than 180 days, after Nov. 5, 1990, see section 529 [title III, §305] of Pub. L. 101–509, set out as a note under section 5301 of this title.

Amendment by section 529 [title I, §109(a)(2)] of Pub. L. 101–509 effective on first day of first applicable pay period beginning on or after the 30th day following Nov. 5, 1990, see section 529 [title I, §109(c)] of Pub. L. 101–509, set out as an Effective Date note under section 5378 of this title.

Effective Date of 1987 Amendment

Pub. L. 100–135, §3, Oct. 16, 1987, 101 Stat. 812, provided that: "The amendments made by section 1 [amending this section and sections 167 and 167h of Title 2, The Congress] shall apply with respect to pay periods beginning after September 30, 1987, except that any pay increase for employees of the Library of Congress, pursuant to the amendments made by such section, shall be subject to appropriation and shall be implemented in four approximately equal annual increments, so that pay parity with the Capitol Police occurs beginning with the first pay period beginning after September 30, 1990."

Effective Date of 1986 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 99–335 effective Jan. 1, 1987, see section 702(a) of Pub. L. 99–335, set out as an Effective Date note under section 8401 of this title.

Effective Date of 1983 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 97–468 effective on date of transfer of Alaska Railroad to the State [Jan. 5, 1985], pursuant to section 1203 of Title 45, Railroads, see section 615(b) of Pub. L. 97–468.

Effective Date of 1980 Amendments

Amendment by Pub. L. 96–465 effective Feb. 15, 1981, except as otherwise provided, see section 2403 of Pub. L. 96–465, set out as an Effective Date note under section 3901 of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse.

Amendment by Pub. L. 96–191 effective Oct. 1, 1980, see section 10(a) of Pub. L. 96–191.

Effective Date of 1979 Amendments

Amendment by Pub. L. 96–70 effective Oct. 1, 1979, see section 3304 of Pub. L. 96–70, set out as an Effective Date note under section 3601 of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse.

Amendment by Pub. L. 96–54 effective July 12, 1979, see section 2(b) of Pub. L. 96–54, set out as a note under section 305 of this title.

Effective Date of 1978 Amendment

Amendment by section 801(a)(3)(D) of Pub. L. 95–454 effective on first day of first applicable pay period beginning on or after 90th day after Oct. 13, 1978, see section 801(a)(4) of Pub. L. 95–454, set out as an Effective Date note under section 5361 of this title.

Amendment by section 906(2)(2) of Pub. L. 95–454 effective 90 days after Oct. 13, 1978, see section 907 of Pub. L. 95–454, set out as a note under section 1101 of this title.

Effective Date of 1973 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 93–176 effective not later than beginning of first pay period which begins on or after 90th day following Dec. 5, 1973, see section 4 of Pub. L. 93–176, set out as a note under section 3809 of Title 50, War and National Defense.

Effective Date of 1970 Amendments

Amendment by Pub. L. 91–375 effective within 1 year after Aug. 12, 1970, on date established therefor by Board of Governors of United States Postal Service and published by it in Federal Register, see section 15(a) of Pub. L. 91–375, set out as an Effective Date note preceding section 101 of Title 39, Postal Service.

Amendment by Pub. L. 91–358 effective first day of seventh calendar month which begins after July 29, 1970, see section 199(a) of Pub. L. 91–358, set out as a note under section 1257 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.

Effective Date of 1969 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 91–34 effective at beginning of first pay period which commences on or after June 30, 1969, see section 3(a) of Pub. L. 91–34, set out as an Effective Date note under section 5375 of this title.

Effective Date of 1968 Amendment

Pub. L. 90–610, §3, Oct. 21, 1968, 82 Stat. 1201, provided that: "The amendments made by this Act [amending this section and section 167 of Title 2, The Congress] shall take effect on the first day of the first pay period which begins on or after the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 21, 1968]. Notwithstanding any provisions of this Act, no rate of basic pay shall be reduced by reason of the enactment of this Act."

Effective Date of 1967 Amendment

Pub. L. 90–83, §9(h), Sept. 11, 1967, 81 Stat. 222, provided that: "Section 1(3) [amending section 1305 of this title], (10) [amending section 3324 of this title], (11) [amending this section], (12) [amending section 5108 of this title], (22) [enacting section 5534a of this title], (23) [amending the analysis for chapter 55 of this title], (83)(a) and (d) [amending section 8344 of this title], (89) [amending section 8521 of this title], (98) [amending section 902 of this title], (99) [amending section 903 of this title], and (100) [amending section 8113 of this title] of this Act is effective as of September 6, 1966, for all purposes."

Repeals

General repealer of provisions inconsistent with Pub. L. 92–392 as not repealing or affecting subsec. (d) of this section, see section 13 of Pub. L. 92–392, Aug. 19, 1972, 86 Stat. 575, set out as a note under section 5341 of this title.

Transfer of Functions

For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 468(b), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.

For transfer of the functions, personnel, assets, and obligations of the United States Secret Service, including the functions of the Secretary of the Treasury relating thereto, to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 381, 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.

Abolition of Atomic Energy Commission

Atomic Energy Commission abolished and functions transferred by sections 5814 and 5841 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. See, also, Transfer of Functions notes set out under those sections.

Dissolution of Virgin Islands Corporation

Virgin Islands Corporation established to have succession until June 30, 1969, unless sooner dissolved by Act of Congress, by act June 30, 1949, ch. 285, 63 Stat. 350, as amended (48 U.S.C. 1407 et seq.). Corporation terminated its program June 30, 1965, and dissolved July 1, 1966. Act June 30, 1949, was repealed by Pub. L. 97–357, title III, §308(e), Oct. 19, 1982, 96 Stat. 1710.

Civilian Members of Faculty of Air Force Institute of Technology on November 8, 1985

Pub. L. 99–145, title V, §504(c), Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 622, as amended by Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, §809(c)(2), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1841, provided that: "Section 9414(b)(2) of title 10, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)(1)(B)), and section 5102(c)(28) of title 5, United States Code (as added by subsection (b)), shall not apply to any person who on the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 8, 1985]—

"(1) is a civilian member of the faculty of the United States Air Force Institute of Technology;

"(2) is paid a rate of basic pay under the General Schedule; and

"(3) elects, under procedures prescribed by the Secretary of the Air Force, to continue to be paid under the General Schedule."

Prohibition of Decrease in Basic Pay Rate of Subsec. (c)(7), (8), or (14) Employees

Amendments by Pub. L. 92–392 not to decrease basic pay rate of subsec. (c)(7), (8), or (14) employees in service before effective date of the amendments as to such employees, see section 9(a)(2) of Pub. L. 92–392, Aug. 19, 1972, 86 Stat. 574, set out as a note under section 5343 of this title.

Reduction of Basic Pay Rate

Rate of basic pay not to be reduced by reason of the enactment of Pub. L. 91–34, which amended this section, see section 3(b) of Pub. L. 91–34, set out as a note under section 5365 of this title.

1 See References in Text note below.

2 See Change of Name note below.
5 U.S.C. § 504 (2024) — Title 5: GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES / Chapter 5 / Subchapter I / Section 504: Costs and fees of parties
Costs and fees of parties
Status: in_force

(a)(1) An agency that conducts an adversary adjudication shall award, to a prevailing party other than the United States, fees and other expenses incurred by that party in connection with that proceeding, unless the adjudicative officer of the agency finds that the position of the agency was substantially justified or that special circumstances make an award unjust. Whether or not the position of the agency was substantially justified shall be determined on the basis of the administrative record, as a whole, which is made in the adversary adjudication for which fees and other expenses are sought.

(2) A party seeking an award of fees and other expenses shall, within thirty days of a final disposition in the adversary adjudication, submit to the agency an application which shows that the party is a prevailing party and is eligible to receive an award under this section, and the amount sought, including an itemized statement from any attorney, agent, or expert witness representing or appearing in behalf of the party stating the actual time expended and the rate at which fees and other expenses were computed. The party shall also allege that the position of the agency was not substantially justified. When the United States appeals the underlying merits of an adversary adjudication, no decision on an application for fees and other expenses in connection with that adversary adjudication shall be made under this section until a final and unreviewable decision is rendered by the court on the appeal or until the underlying merits of the case have been finally determined pursuant to the appeal.

(3) The adjudicative officer of the agency may reduce the amount to be awarded, or deny an award, to the extent that the party during the course of the proceedings engaged in conduct which unduly and unreasonably protracted the final resolution of the matter in controversy. The decision of the adjudicative officer of the agency under this section shall be made a part of the record containing the final decision of the agency and shall include written findings and conclusions and the reason or basis therefor. The decision of the agency on the application for fees and other expenses shall be the final administrative decision under this section.

(4) If, in an adversary adjudication arising from an agency action to enforce a party's compliance with a statutory or regulatory requirement, the demand by the agency is substantially in excess of the decision of the adjudicative officer and is unreasonable when compared with such decision, under the facts and circumstances of the case, the adjudicative officer shall award to the party the fees and other expenses related to defending against the excessive demand, unless the party has committed a willful violation of law or otherwise acted in bad faith, or special circumstances make an award unjust. Fees and expenses awarded under this paragraph shall be paid only as a consequence of appropriations provided in advance.

(b)(1) For the purposes of this section—

(A) "fees and other expenses" includes the reasonable expenses of expert witnesses, the reasonable cost of any study, analysis, engineering report, test, or project which is found by the agency to be necessary for the preparation of the party's case, and reasonable attorney or agent fees (The amount of fees awarded under this section shall be based upon prevailing market rates for the kind and quality of the services furnished, except that (i) no expert witness shall be compensated at a rate in excess of the highest rate of compensation for expert witnesses paid by the agency involved, and (ii) attorney or agent fees shall not be awarded in excess of $125 per hour unless the agency determines by regulation that an increase in the cost of living or a special factor, such as the limited availability of qualified attorneys or agents for the proceedings involved, justifies a higher fee.);

(B) "party" means a party, as defined in section 551(3) of this title, who is (i) an individual whose net worth did not exceed $2,000,000 at the time the adversary adjudication was initiated, or (ii) any owner of an unincorporated business, or any partnership, corporation, association, unit of local government, or organization, the net worth of which did not exceed $7,000,000 at the time the adversary adjudication was initiated, and which had not more than 500 employees at the time the adversary adjudication was initiated; except that an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3)) exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code, or a cooperative association as defined in section 15(a) of the Agricultural Marketing Act (12 U.S.C. 1141j(a)), may be a party regardless of the net worth of such organization or cooperative association or for purposes of subsection (a)(4), a small entity as defined in section 601;

(C) "adversary adjudication" means (i) an adjudication under section 554 of this title in which the position of the United States is represented by counsel or otherwise, but excludes an adjudication for the purpose of establishing or fixing a rate or for the purpose of granting or renewing a license, (ii) any appeal of a decision made pursuant to section 7103 of title 41 before an agency board of contract appeals as provided in section 7105 of title 41, (iii) any hearing conducted under chapter 38 of title 31, and (iv) the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993;

(D) "adjudicative officer" means the deciding official, without regard to whether the official is designated as an administrative law judge, a hearing officer or examiner, or otherwise, who presided at the adversary adjudication;

(E) "position of the agency" means, in addition to the position taken by the agency in the adversary adjudication, the action or failure to act by the agency upon which the adversary adjudication is based; except that fees and other expenses may not be awarded to a party for any portion of the adversary adjudication in which the party has unreasonably protracted the proceedings; and

(F) "demand" means the express demand of the agency which led to the adversary adjudication, but does not include a recitation by the agency of the maximum statutory penalty (i) in the administrative complaint, or (ii) elsewhere when accompanied by an express demand for a lesser amount.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (1), the definitions provided in section 551 of this title apply to this section.

(c)(1) After consultation with the Chairman of the Administrative Conference of the United States, each agency shall by rule establish uniform procedures for the submission and consideration of applications for an award of fees and other expenses. If a court reviews the underlying decision of the adversary adjudication, an award for fees and other expenses may be made only pursuant to section 2412(d)(3) of title 28.

(2) If a party other than the United States is dissatisfied with a determination of fees and other expenses made under subsection (a), that party may, within 30 days after the determination is made, appeal the determination to the court of the United States having jurisdiction to review the merits of the underlying decision of the agency adversary adjudication. The court's determination on any appeal heard under this paragraph shall be based solely on the factual record made before the agency. The court may modify the determination of fees and other expenses only if the court finds that the failure to make an award of fees and other expenses, or the calculation of the amount of the award, was unsupported by substantial evidence.

(d) Fees and other expenses awarded under this subsection shall be paid by any agency over which the party prevails from any funds made available to the agency by appropriation or otherwise.

(e)(1) Not later than March 31 of the first fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act, and every fiscal year thereafter, the Chairman of the Administrative Conference of the United States, after consultation with the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration, shall submit to Congress and make publicly available online a report on the amount of fees and other expenses awarded during the preceding fiscal year under this section.

(2) Each report under paragraph (1) shall describe the number, nature, and amount of the awards, the claims involved in the controversy, and any other relevant information that may aid Congress in evaluating the scope and impact of such awards.

(3)(A) Each report under paragraph (1) shall account for all payments of fees and other expenses awarded under this section that are made pursuant to a settlement agreement, regardless of whether the settlement agreement is sealed or otherwise subject to a nondisclosure provision.

(B) The disclosure of fees and other expenses required under subparagraph (A) shall not affect any other information that is subject to a nondisclosure provision in a settlement agreement.

(f) As soon as practicable, and in any event not later than the date on which the first report under subsection (e)(1) is required to be submitted, the Chairman of the Administrative Conference of the United States shall create and maintain online a searchable database containing, with respect to each award of fees and other expenses under this section made on or after the date of enactment of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act, the following information:

(1) The case name and number of the adversary adjudication, if available, hyperlinked to the case, if available.

(2) The name of the agency involved in the adversary adjudication.

(3) A description of the claims in the adversary adjudication.

(4) The name of each party to whom the award was made as such party is identified in the order or other court document making the award.

(5) The amount of the award.

(6) The basis for the finding that the position of the agency concerned was not substantially justified.

(g) The online searchable database described in subsection (f) may not reveal any information the disclosure of which is prohibited by law or a court order.

(h) The head of each agency shall provide to the Chairman of the Administrative Conference of the United States in a timely manner all information requested by the Chairman to comply with the requirements of subsections (e), (f), and (g).

(i) No award may be made under this section for costs, fees, or other expenses which may be awarded under section 7430 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

(Added Pub. L. 96–481, title II, §203(a)(1), (c), Oct. 21, 1980, 94 Stat. 2325, 2327; revived and amended Pub. L. 99–80, §§1, 6, Aug. 5, 1985, 99 Stat. 183, 186; Pub. L. 99–509, title VI, §6103(c), Oct. 21, 1986, 100 Stat. 1948; Pub. L. 99–514, §2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095; Pub. L. 100–647, title VI, §6239(b), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3746; Pub. L. 103–141, §4(b), Nov. 16, 1993, 107 Stat. 1489; Pub. L. 104–121, title II, §231, Mar. 29, 1996, 110 Stat. 862; Pub. L. 111–350, §5(a)(1), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3841; Pub. L. 116–9, title IV, §4201(a)(1), Mar. 12, 2019, 133 Stat. 762.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993, referred to in subsec. (b)(1)(C)(iv), is Pub. L. 103–141, Nov. 16, 1993, 107 Stat. 1488, which is classified principally to chapter 21B (§2000bb et seq.) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 2000bb of Title 42 and Tables.

The date of enactment of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act, referred to in subsecs. (e)(1) and (f), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 116–9, which was approved Mar. 12, 2019.

Section 7430 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, referred to in subsec. (i), is classified to section 7430 of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code.

Amendments

2019—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 116–9, §4201(a)(1)(A), struck out ", United States Code" after "title 28".

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 116–9, §4201(a)(1)(C), added subsec. (e) and struck out former subsec. (e) which read as follows: "The Chairman of the Administrative Conference of the United States, after consultation with the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration, shall report annually to the Congress on the amount of fees and other expenses awarded during the preceding fiscal year pursuant to this section. The report shall describe the number, nature, and amount of the awards, the claims involved in the controversy, and any other relevant information which may aid the Congress in evaluating the scope and impact of such awards. Each agency shall provide the Chairman with such information as is necessary for the Chairman to comply with the requirements of this subsection."

Subsecs. (f) to (i). Pub. L. 116–9, §4201(a)(1)(B), (C), added subsecs. (f) to (h) and redesignated former subsec. (f) as (i).

2011—Subsec. (b)(1)(C)(ii). Pub. L. 111–350 substituted "section 7103 of title 41" for "section 6 of the Contract Disputes Act of 1978 (41 U.S.C. 605)" and "section 7105 of title 41" for "section 8 of that Act (41 U.S.C. 607)".

1996—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 104–121, §231(a), added par. (4).

Subsec. (b)(1)(A)(ii). Pub. L. 104–121, §231(b)(1), substituted "$125" for "$75".

Subsec. (b)(1)(B). Pub. L. 104–121, §231(b)(2), inserted before semicolon at end "or for purposes of subsection (a)(4), a small entity as defined in section 601".

Subsec. (b)(1)(F). Pub. L. 104–121, §231(b)(3)–(5), added subpar. (F).

1993—Subsec. (b)(1)(C). Pub. L. 103–141 added cl. (iv).

1988—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 100–647 added subsec. (f).

1986—Subsec. (b)(1)(B). Pub. L. 99–514 substituted "Internal Revenue Code of 1986" for "Internal Revenue Code of 1954".

Subsec. (b)(1)(C)(iii). Pub. L. 99–509 added cl. (iii).

1985—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 99–80, §1(a)(1), (2), struck out "as a party to the proceeding" after "the position of the agency", and inserted "Whether or not the position of the agency was substantially justified shall be determined on the basis of the administrative record, as a whole, which is made in the adversary adjudication for which fees and other expenses are sought."

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 99–80, §1(b), inserted "When the United States appeals the underlying merits of an adversary adjudication, no decision on an application for fees and other expenses in connection with that adversary adjudication shall be made under this section until a final and unreviewable decision is rendered by the court on the appeal or until the underlying merits of the case have been finally determined pursuant to the appeal."

Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 99–80, §1(a)(3), inserted "The decision of the agency on the application for fees and other expenses shall be the final administrative decision under this section."

Subsec. (b)(1)(B). Pub. L. 99–80, §1(c)(1), amended subpar. (B) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (B) read as follows: " 'party' means a party, as defined in section 551(3) of this title, which is an individual, partnership, corporation, association, or public or private organization other than an agency, but excludes (i) any individual whose net worth exceeded $1,000,000 at the time the adversary adjudication was initiated, and any sole owner of an unincorporated business, or any partnership, corporation, association, or organization whose net worth exceeded $5,000,000 at the time the adversary adjudication was initiated, except that an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3)) exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of the Code and a cooperative association as defined in section 15(a) of the Agricultural Marketing Act (12 U.S.C. 1141j(a)), may be a party regardless of the net worth of such organization or cooperative association, and (ii) any sole owner of an unincorporated business, or any partnership, corporation, association, or organization, having more than 500 employees at the time the adversary adjudication was initiated;".

Subsec. (b)(1)(C). Pub. L. 99–80, §1(c)(2), designated existing provisions of subpar. (C) as cl. (i) thereof by inserting "(i)" before "an adjudication under", added cl. (ii), and struck out "and" after the semicolon at the end.

Subsec. (b)(1)(D), (E). Pub. L. 99–80, §1(c)(3), substituted "; and" for the period at end of subpar. (D), and added subpar. (E).

Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 99–80, §1(d), amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: "A party dissatisfied with the fee determination made under subsection (a) may petition for leave to appeal to the court of the United States having jurisdiction to review the merits of the underlying decision of the agency adversary adjudication. If the court denies the petition for leave to appeal, no appeal may be taken from the denial. If the court grants the petition, it may modify the determination only if it finds that the failure to make an award, or the calculation of the amount of the award, was an abuse of discretion."

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 99–80, §1(e), amended subsec. (d) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (d) read as follows:

"(1) Fees and other expenses awarded under this section may be paid by any agency over which the party prevails from any funds made available to the agency, by appropriation or otherwise, for such purpose. If not paid by any agency, the fees and other expenses shall be paid in the same manner as the payment of final judgments is made pursuant to section 2414 of title 28, United States Code.

"(2) There is authorized to be appropriated to each agency for each of the fiscal years 1982, 1983, and 1984, such sums as may be necessary to pay fees and other expenses awarded under this section in such fiscal years."

1980—Pub. L. 96–481, §203(c), which provided for the repeal of this section effective Oct. 1, 1984, was itself repealed and this section was revived by section 6 of Pub. L. 99–80, set out as a note below.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1996 Amendment

Pub. L. 104–121, title II, §233, Mar. 29, 1996, 110 Stat. 864, provided that: "The amendments made by sections 331 and 332 [probably means sections 231 and 232, amending this section and section 2412 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure] shall apply to civil actions and adversary adjudications commenced on or after the date of the enactment of this subtitle [Mar. 29, 1996]."

Effective Date of 1988 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 100–647 applicable to proceedings commencing after Nov. 10, 1988, see section 6239(d) of Pub. L. 100–647, set out as a note under section 7430 of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code.

Effective Date of 1986 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 99–509 effective Oct. 21, 1986, and applicable to any claim or statement made, presented or submitted on or after such date, see section 6104 of Pub. L. 99–509, set out as an Effective Date note under section 3801 of Title 31, Money and Finance.

Effective Date of 1985 Amendment

Pub. L. 99–80, §7, Aug. 5, 1985, 99 Stat. 186, provided that:

"(a) In General.—Except as otherwise provided in this section, the amendments made by this Act [reviving and amending this section and section 2412(d) of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure, and amending and repealing provisions set out as notes under those sections] shall apply to cases pending on or commenced on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 5, 1985].

"(b) Applicability of Amendments to Certain Prior Cases.—The amendments made by this Act shall apply to any case commenced on or after October 1, 1984, and finally disposed of before the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 5, 1985], except that in any such case, the 30-day period referred to in section 504(a)(2) of title 5, United States Code, or section 2412(d)(1)(B) of title 28, United States Code, as the case may be, shall be deemed to commence on the date of the enactment of this Act.

"(c) Applicability of Amendments to Prior Board of Contracts Appeals Cases.—Section 504(b)(1)(C)(ii) of title 5, United States Code, as added by section 1(c)(2) of this Act, and section 2412(d)(2)(E) of title 28, United States Code, as added by section 2(c)(2) of this Act, shall apply to any adversary adjudication pending on or commenced on or after October 1, 1981, in which applications for fees and other expenses were timely filed and were dismissed for lack of jurisdiction."

Effective Date

Pub. L. 96–481, title II, §208, Oct. 21, 1980, 94 Stat. 2330, as amended by Pub. L. 99–80, §5, Aug. 5, 1985, 99 Stat. 186, provided that: "This title and the amendments made by this title [see Short Title note below] shall take effect of [on] October 1, 1981, and shall apply to any adversary adjudication, as defined in section 504(b)(1)(C) of title 5, United States Code, and any civil action or adversary adjudication described in section 2412 of title 28, United States Code, which is pending on, or commenced on or after, such date. Awards may be made for fees and other expenses incurred before October 1, 1981, in any such adversary adjudication or civil action."

Pub. L. 96–481, title II, §203(c), Oct. 21, 1980, 94 Stat. 2327, which provided that effective Oct. 1, 1984, this section is repealed, except that the provisions of this section shall continue to apply through final disposition of any adversary adjudication initiated before the date of repeal, was itself repealed by Pub. L. 99–80, §6(b)(1), Aug. 5, 1985, 99 Stat. 186.

Short Title

Pub. L. 96–481, title II, §201, Oct. 21, 1980, 94 Stat. 2325, provided that: "This title [enacting this section, amending section 634 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade, section 2412 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure, Rule 37 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, set out in Title 28 Appendix, and section 1988 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and section 2412 of Title 28] may be cited as the 'Equal Access to Justice Act'."

Termination of Reporting Requirements

For termination, effective May 15, 2000, of provisions in subsec. (e) of this section relating to annual report to Congress on the amount of fees and other expenses, see section 3003 of Pub. L. 104–66, as amended, set out as a note under section 1113 of Title 31, Money and Finance, and page 153 of House Document No. 103–7.

Termination of Administrative Conference of United States

For termination of Administrative Conference of United States, see provision of title IV of Pub. L. 104–52, set out as a note preceding section 591 of this title.

Prohibition on Use of Energy and Water Development Appropriations To Pay Intervening Parties in Regulatory or Adjudicatory Proceedings

Pub. L. 102–377, title V, §502, Oct. 2, 1992, 106 Stat. 1342, provided that: "None of the funds in this Act or subsequent Energy and Water Development Appropriations Acts shall be used to pay the expenses of, or otherwise compensate, parties intervening in regulatory or adjudicatory proceedings funded in such Acts."

Revival of Previously Repealed Provisions

Pub. L. 99–80, §6, Aug. 5, 1985, 99 Stat. 186, provided that:

"(a) Revival of Certain Expired Provisions.—Section 504 of title 5, United States Code, and the item relating to that section in the table of sections of chapter 5 of title 5, United States Code, and subsection (d) of section 2412 of title 28, United States Code, shall be effective on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 5, 1985] as if they had not been repealed by sections 203(c) and 204(c) of the Equal Access to Justice Act [Pub. L. 96–481].

"(b) Repeals.—

"(1) Section 203(c) of the Equal Access to Justice Act [which repealed this section] is hereby repealed.

"(2) Section 204(c) of the Equal Access to Justice Act [which repealed section 2412(d) of title 28] is hereby repealed."

Congressional Findings and Purposes

Pub. L. 96–481, title II, §202, Oct. 21, 1980, 94 Stat. 2325, provided that:

"(a) The Congress finds that certain individuals, partnerships, corporations, and labor and other organizations may be deterred from seeking review of, or defending against, unreasonable governmental action because of the expense involved in securing the vindication of their rights in civil actions and in administrative proceedings.

"(b) The Congress further finds that because of the greater resources and expertise of the United States the standard for an award of fees against the United States should be different from the standard governing an award against a private litigant, in certain situations.

"(c) It is the purpose of this title [see Short Title note above]—

"(1) to diminish the deterrent effect of seeking review of, or defending against, governmental action by providing in specified situations an award of attorney fees, expert witness fees, and other costs against the United States; and

"(2) to insure the applicability in actions by or against the United States of the common law and statutory exceptions to the 'American rule' respecting the award of attorney fees."

Limitation on Payments

Pub. L. 96–481, title II, §207, Oct. 21, 1980, 94 Stat. 2330, which provided that the payment of judgments, fees and other expenses in the same manner as the payment of final judgments as provided in this Act [probably should be "this title", see Short Title note above] would be effective only to the extent and in such amounts as are provided in advance in appropriation Acts, was repealed by Pub. L. 99–80, §4, Aug. 5, 1985, 99 Stat. 186.
5 U.S.C. § 4314 (2024) — Title 5: GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES / Chapter 43 / Subchapter II / Section 4314: Ratings for performance appraisals
Ratings for performance appraisals
Status: in_force

(a) Each performance appraisal system shall provide for annual summary ratings of levels of performance as follows:

(1) one or more fully successful levels,

(2) a minimally satisfactory level, and

(3) an unsatisfactory level.

(b) Each performance appraisal system shall provide that—

(1) any appraisal and any rating under such system—

(A) are made only after review and evaluation by a performance review board established under subsection (c) of this section;

(B) are conducted at least annually, subject to the limitation of subsection (c)(3) of this section;

(C) in the case of a career appointee, may not be made within 120 days after the beginning of a new Presidential administration; and

(D) are based on performance during a performance appraisal period the duration of which shall be determined under guidelines established by the Office of Personnel Management, but which may be terminated in any case in which the agency making an appraisal determines that an adequate basis exists on which to appraise and rate the senior executive's performance;

(2) any career appointee receiving a rating at any of the fully successful levels under subsection (a)(1) of this section may be given a performance award under section 5384 of this title;

(3) any senior executive receiving an unsatisfactory rating under subsection (a)(3) of this section shall be reassigned or transferred within the Senior Executive Service, or removed from the Senior Executive Service, but any senior executive who receives 2 unsatisfactory ratings in any period of 5 consecutive years shall be removed from the Senior Executive Service; and

(4) any senior executive who twice in any period of 3 consecutive years receives less than fully successful ratings shall be removed from the Senior Executive Service.

(c)(1) Each agency shall establish, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Office, one or more performance review boards, as appropriate. It is the function of the boards to make recommendations to the appropriate appointing authority of the agency relating to the performance of senior executives in the agency.

(2) The supervising official of the senior executive shall provide to the performance review board, an initial appraisal of the senior executive's performance. Before making any recommendation with respect to the senior executive, the board shall review any response by the senior executive to the initial appraisal and conduct such further review as the board finds necessary.

(3) Performance appraisals under this subchapter with respect to any senior executive shall be made by the appointing authority only after considering the recommendations by the performance review board with respect to such senior executive under paragraph (1) of this subsection.

(4) Members of performance review boards shall be appointed in such a manner as to assure consistency, stability, and objectivity in performance appraisal. Notice of the appointment of an individual to serve as a member shall be published in the Federal Register.

(5) In the case of an appraisal of a career appointee, more than one-half of the members of the performance review board shall consist of career appointees. The requirement of the preceding sentence shall not apply in any case in which the Office determines that there exists an insufficient number of career appointees available to comply with the requirement.

(Added Pub. L. 95–454, title IV, §405(a), Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1169; amended Pub. L. 104–66, title II, §2181(b), Dec. 21, 1995, 109 Stat. 732.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1995—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 104–66 struck out subsec. (d) which related to reports to Congress.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective 9 months after Oct. 13, 1978, and congressional review of provisions of sections 401 through 412 of Pub. L. 95–454, see section 415(a)(1), (b), of Pub. L. 95–454, set out as a note under section 3131 of this title.
5 U.S.C. § 2101a (2024) — Title 5: GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES / Chapter 21 / Section 2101a: The Senior Executive Service
The Senior Executive Service
Status: in_force

The "Senior Executive Service" consists of Senior Executive Service positions (as defined in section 3132(a)(2) of this title).

(Added Pub. L. 95–454, title IV, §401(a), Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1154.)

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective 9 months after Oct. 13, 1978, and congressional review of provisions of sections 401 through 412 of Pub. L. 95–454, see section 415 of Pub. L. 95–454, set out as a note under section 3131 of this title.
5 U.S.C. § 593 (2024) — Title 5: GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES / Chapter 5 / Subchapter V / Section 593: Administrative Conference of the United States
Administrative Conference of the United States
Status: in_force

(a) The Administrative Conference of the United States consists of not more than 101 nor less than 75 members appointed as set forth in subsection (b) of this section.

(b) The Conference is composed of—

(1) a full-time Chairman appointed for a 5-year term by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Chairman is entitled to pay at the highest rate established by statute for the chairman of an independent regulatory board or commission, and may continue to serve until his successor is appointed and has qualified;

(2) the chairman of each independent regulatory board or commission or an individual designated by the board or commission;

(3) the head of each Executive department or other administrative agency which is designated by the President, or an individual designated by the head of the department or agency;

(4) when authorized by the Council referred to in section 595(b) of this title, one or more appointees from a board, commission, department, or agency referred to in this subsection, designated by the head thereof with, in the case of a board or commission, the approval of the board or commission;

(5) individuals appointed by the President to membership on the Council who are not otherwise members of the Conference; and

(6) not more than 40 other members appointed by the Chairman, with the approval of the Council, for terms of 2 years, except that the number of members appointed by the Chairman may at no time be less than one-third nor more than two-fifths of the total number of members. The Chairman shall select the members in a manner which will provide broad representation of the views of private citizens and utilize diverse experience. The members shall be members of the practicing bar, scholars in the field of administrative law or government, or others specially informed by knowledge and experience with respect to Federal administrative procedure.

(c) Members of the Conference, except the Chairman, are not entitled to pay for service. Members appointed from outside the Federal Government are entitled to travel expenses, including per diem instead of subsistence, as authorized by section 5703 of this title for individuals serving without pay.

(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 389, §573; Pub. L. 99–470, §1, Oct. 14, 1986, 100 Stat. 1198; renumbered §593 and amended Pub. L. 102–354, §2(2), (3), Aug. 26, 1992, 106 Stat. 944.)

Historical and Revision Notes

DerivationU.S. CodeRevised Statutes and 
Statutes at Large

 
5 U.S.C. 1045b. 
Aug. 30, 1964, Pub. L. 88–499, §4, 78 Stat. 616.

In subsection (a), the words "There is hereby established" are omitted as executed. The words "hereinafter referred to as the 'Conference' " are omitted as unnecessary as the title "Administrative Conference of the United States" is fully set out the first time it is used in each section of this chapter.

In subsection (b)(4), the words "referred to in section 575(b) of this title" are inserted for clarity.

In subsection (c), the words "by section 5703 of this title" are substituted for "by law (5 U.S.C. 73b–2)" to reflect the codification of that section in title 5.

Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 593 was renumbered section 583 of this title.

Amendments

1992—Pub. L. 102–354, §2(2), renumbered section 573 of this title as this section.

Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 102–354, §2(3), substituted "section 595(b)" for "section 575(b)".

1986—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99–470, §1(a)(1), substituted "101" for "91".

Subsec. (b)(6). Pub. L. 99–470, §1(a)(2), substituted "40" for "36".

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Termination of Administrative Conference of United States

For termination of Administrative Conference of United States, see note set out preceding section 591 of this title.

Development of Administrative Conference

The Administrative Conference of the United States, established as a permanent body by the Administrative Conference Act, Pub. L. 88–499, Aug. 30, 1964, 78 Stat. 615, was preceded by two temporary Conferences. The first was called by President Eisenhower in 1953 and adopted a final report which was transmitted to the President who acknowledged receipt of it on March 3, 1955. The second was established by President Kennedy by Executive Order No. 10934, Apr. 14, 1961, 26 F.R. 3233, which, by its terms, called for a final report to the President by December 31, 1962. The final report recommended a continuing Conference consisting of both government personnel and outside experts.