5 U.S.C. § 415 (2024) — Title 5: GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES / Chapter 4 / Section 415: Requirements for Federal entities and designated Federal entities
Requirements for Federal entities and designated Federal entities
Status: in_force

(a) Definitions.—Notwithstanding section 401 of this title, in this section:

(1) Designated federal entity.—

(A) In general.—The term "designated Federal entity" means Amtrak, the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Denali Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Farm Credit Administration, the Federal Election Commission, the Election Assistance Commission, the Federal Labor Relations Authority, the Federal Maritime Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, the Legal Services Corporation, the National Archives and Records Administration, the National Credit Union Administration, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, the National Labor Relations Board, the National Science Foundation, the Peace Corps, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Smithsonian Institution, the United States International Development Finance Corporation, the United States International Trade Commission, the Postal Regulatory Commission, and the United States Postal Service.

(B) Amtrak.—Effective at the beginning of the first fiscal year after a fiscal year for which Amtrak receives no Federal subsidy, subparagraph (A) is amended by striking "Amtrak,".

(2) Federal entity.—The term "Federal entity" means any Government corporation (within the meaning of section 103(1) of this title), any Government controlled corporation (within the meaning of section 103(2) of this title), or any other entity in the executive branch of the Government, or any independent regulatory agency, but does not include—

(A) an establishment (as defined under section 401 of this title) or part of an establishment;

(B) a designated Federal entity (as defined under paragraph (1) of this subsection) or part of a designated Federal entity;

(C) the Executive Office of the President;

(D) the Central Intelligence Agency;

(E) the Government Accountability Office; or

(F) any entity in the judicial or legislative branches of the Government, including the Administrative Office of the United States Courts and the Architect of the Capitol and any activities under the direction of the Architect of the Capitol.

(3) Head of the designated federal entity.—The term "head of the designated Federal entity" means the board or commission of the designated Federal entity, or in the event the designated Federal entity does not have a board or commission, any person or persons designated by statute as the head of a designated Federal entity and if no such designation exists, the chief policymaking officer or board of a designated Federal entity as identified in the list published pursuant to subsection (h)(1) of this section, except that—

(A) with respect to the National Science Foundation, such term means the National Science Board;

(B) with respect to the United States Postal Service, such term means the Governors (within the meaning of section 102(3) of title 39);

(C) with respect to the Federal Labor Relations Authority, such term means the members of the Authority (described under section 7104 of this title);

(D) with respect to the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled, such term means the Chairman of the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled;

(E) with respect to the National Archives and Records Administration, such term means the Archivist of the United States;

(F) with respect to the National Credit Union Administration, such term means the National Credit Union Administration Board (described under section 102 of the Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1752a));

(G) with respect to the National Endowment of the Arts, such term means the National Council on the Arts;

(H) with respect to the National Endowment for the Humanities, such term means the National Council on the Humanities;

(I) with respect to the Peace Corps, such term means the Director of the Peace Corps; and

(J) with respect to the United States International Development Finance Corporation, such term means the Board of Directors of the United States International Development Finance Corporation.

(4) Head of the federal entity.—The term "head of the Federal entity" means any person or persons designated by statute as the head of a Federal entity, and if no such designation exists, the chief policymaking officer or board of a Federal entity as identified in the list published pursuant to subsection (h)(1) of this section.

(5) Inspector general.—The term "Inspector General" means an Inspector General of a designated Federal entity.

(6) Office of inspector general.—The term "Office of Inspector General" means an Office of Inspector General of a designated Federal entity.

(b) Office of Inspector General in Each Designated Federal Entity.—Not later than 180 days after October 18, 1988, there shall be established and maintained in each designated Federal entity an Office of Inspector General. The head of the designated Federal entity shall transfer to such office the offices, units, or other components, and the functions, powers, or duties thereof, that such head determines are properly related to the functions of the Office of Inspector General and would, if so transferred, further the purposes of this section. There shall not be transferred to such office any program operating responsibilities.

(c) Appointment of Inspector General.—Except as provided under subsection (f) of this section, the Inspector General shall be appointed by the head of the designated Federal entity in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations governing appointments within the designated Federal entity. Each Inspector General shall be appointed without regard to political affiliation and solely on the basis of integrity and demonstrated ability in accounting, auditing, financial analysis, law, management analysis, public administration, or investigations. For purposes of implementing this section, the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System shall appoint the Inspector General of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection. The Inspector General of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection shall have all of the authorities and responsibilities provided by this Act with respect to the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, as if the Bureau were part of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

(d) Supervision.—

(1) In general.—Each Inspector General shall report to and be under the general supervision of the head of the designated Federal entity, but shall not report to, or be subject to supervision by, any other officer or employee of such designated Federal entity. Except as provided in paragraph (2), the head of the designated Federal entity shall not prevent or prohibit the Inspector General from initiating, carrying out, or completing any audit or investigation, or from issuing any subpoena during the course of any audit or investigation.

(2) Exception relating to intelligence community.—

(A) In general.—The Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, may prohibit the inspector general of an element of the intelligence community specified in subparagraph (D) from initiating, carrying out, or completing any audit or investigation, or from accessing information available to an element of the intelligence community specified in subparagraph (D), if the Secretary determines that the prohibition is necessary to protect vital national security interests of the United States.

(B) Statement of reasons for exercise of authority.—If the Secretary exercises the authority under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall submit to the committees of Congress specified in subparagraph (E) an appropriately classified statement of the reasons for the exercise of such authority not later than 7 days after the exercise of such authority.

(C) Notification to inspector general.—At the same time the Secretary submits under subparagraph (B) a statement on the exercise of the authority in subparagraph (A) to the committees of Congress specified in subparagraph (E), the Secretary shall notify the inspector general of such element of the submittal of such statement and, to the extent consistent with the protection of intelligence sources and methods, provide such inspector general with a copy of such statement. Such inspector general may submit to such committees of Congress any comments on a notice or statement received by the inspector general under this subparagraph that the inspector general considers appropriate.

(D) Elements of the intelligence community.—The elements of the intelligence community specified in this subparagraph are as follows:

(i) The Defense Intelligence Agency.

(ii) The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.

(iii) The National Reconnaissance Office.

(iv) The National Security Agency.

(E) Committees of congress.—The committees of Congress specified in this subparagraph are—

(i) the Committee on Armed Services and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; and

(ii) the Committee on Armed Services and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives.

(e) Removal.—

(1) Board, chairman of committee, or commission is head of designated federal entity.—In the case of a designated Federal entity for which a board, chairman of a committee, or commission is the head of the designated Federal entity, a removal under this subsection may only be made upon the written concurrence of a 2/3 majority of the board, committee, or commission.

(2) Inspector general removed or transferred.—If an Inspector General is removed from office or is transferred to another position or location within a designated Federal entity, the head of the designated Federal entity shall communicate in writing the reasons for any such removal or transfer to both Houses of Congress, not later than 30 days before the removal or transfer. Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit a personnel action otherwise authorized by law, other than transfer or removal.

(f) United States Postal Service.—

(1) Appointment.—For purposes of carrying out subsection (c) with respect to the United States Postal Service, the appointment provisions of section 202(e) of title 39 shall be applied.

(2) Oversight responsibility of inspector general for activities of postal inspection service.—In carrying out the duties and responsibilities specified in this chapter, the Inspector General of the United States Postal Service (hereinafter in this subsection referred to as the "Inspector General") shall have oversight responsibility for all activities of the Postal Inspection Service, including any internal investigation performed by the Postal Inspection Service. The Chief Postal Inspector shall promptly report the significant activities being carried out by the Postal Inspection Service to such Inspector General.

(3) Audits and investigations.—

(A) Authority, direction, and control of governors.—

(i) Access to sensitive information.—Notwithstanding subsection (d), the Inspector General shall be under the authority, direction, and control of the Governors with respect to audits or investigations, or the issuance of subpoenas, which require access to sensitive information concerning—

(I) ongoing civil or criminal investigations or proceedings;

(II) undercover operations;

(III) the identity of confidential sources, including protected witnesses;

(IV) intelligence or counterintelligence matters; or

(V) other matters the disclosure of which would constitute a serious threat to national security.

(ii) Authority to prohibit inspector general from carrying out or completing audit or investigation.—With respect to the information described under clause (i), the Governors may prohibit the Inspector General from carrying out or completing any audit or investigation, or from issuing any subpoena, after such Inspector General has decided to initiate, carry out, or complete such audit or investigation or to issue such subpoena, if the Governors determine that such prohibition is necessary to prevent the disclosure of any information described under clause (i) or to prevent significant impairment to the national interests of the United States.

(iii) Notification of reasons for exercise of power.—If the Governors exercise any power under clause (i) or (ii), the Governors shall notify the Inspector General in writing, stating the reasons for such exercise. Within 30 days after receipt of any such notice, the Inspector General shall transmit a copy of such notice to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Oversight and Reform of the House of Representatives, and to other appropriate committees or subcommittees of the Congress.

(B) Initiating, conducting, and supervising audits and investigations.—In carrying out the duties and responsibilities specified in this chapter, the Inspector General—

(i) may initiate, conduct, and supervise such audits and investigations in the United States Postal Service as the Inspector General considers appropriate; and

(ii) shall give particular regard to the activities of the Postal Inspection Service with a view toward avoiding duplication and ensuring effective coordination and cooperation.

(C) Reporting serious problems, abuses, or deficiencies.—Any report required to be transmitted by the Governors to the appropriate committees or subcommittees of the Congress under section 405(e) of this title shall also be transmitted, within the 7-day period specified under such section, to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Oversight and Reform of the House of Representatives.

(4) Limitation.—Nothing in this chapter shall restrict, eliminate, or otherwise adversely affect any of the rights, privileges, or benefits of either employees of the United States Postal Service, or labor organizations representing employees of the United States Postal Service, under chapter 12 of title 39, the National Labor Relations Act, any handbook or manual affecting employee labor relations with the United States Postal Service, or any collective bargaining agreement.

(5) Definition of governors.—In this subsection, the term "Governors" has the meaning given the term by section 102(3) of title 39.

(6) Authorization of appropriations.—There are authorized to be appropriated, out of the Postal Service Fund, such sums as may be necessary for the Office of Inspector General of the United States Postal Service.

(g) Special Application.—

(1) Sections 404, 405, 406, and 407.—Sections 404, 405, 406 (other than paragraphs (7) and (8) of section 406(a)), and 407 of this title shall apply to each Inspector General and Office of Inspector General of a designated Federal entity, and such sections shall be applied to each designated Federal entity and head of the designated Federal entity (as defined under subsection (a)) by substituting—

(A) "designated Federal entity" for "establishment"; and

(B) "head of the designated Federal entity" for "head of the establishment".

(2) Personnel.—In addition to the other authorities specified in this chapter, an Inspector General is authorized to select, appoint, and employ such officers and employees as may be necessary for carrying out the functions, powers, and duties of the Office of Inspector General and to obtain the temporary or intermittent services of experts or consultants or an organization of experts or consultants, subject to the applicable laws and regulations that govern such selections, appointments, and employment, and the obtaining of such services, within the designated Federal entity.

(3) Application of section 412(a).—Notwithstanding the last sentence of subsection (d)(1) of this section, the provisions of subsection (a) of section 412 of this title (other than the provisions of subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), and (E) of subsection (a)(1) of section 412 of this title) shall apply to the Inspector General of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection and the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in the same manner as such provisions apply to the Inspector General of the Department of the Treasury and the Secretary of the Treasury, respectively.

(4) Counsel.—Each Inspector General shall—

(A) in accordance with applicable laws and regulations governing appointments within the designated Federal entity, appoint a Counsel to the Inspector General who shall report to the Inspector General;

(B) obtain the services of a counsel appointed by and directly reporting to another Inspector General on a reimbursable basis; or

(C) obtain the services of appropriate staff of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency on a reimbursable basis.

(h) Annual Listing and Report.—

(1) Listing.—Each year, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, after consultation with the Comptroller General of the United States, shall publish in the Federal Register a list of the Federal entities and designated Federal entities and if the designated Federal entity is not a board or commission, include the head of each such entity (as defined under subsection (a)).

(2) Report.—On October 31 of each year, the head of each Federal entity (as defined under subsection (a)) shall prepare and transmit to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and to each House of the Congress a report that—

(A) states whether there has been established in the Federal entity an office that meets the requirements of this section;

(B) specifies the actions taken by the Federal entity otherwise to ensure that audits are conducted of its programs and operations in accordance with the standards for audit of governmental organizations, programs, activities, and functions issued by the Comptroller General of the United States, and includes a list of each audit report completed by a Federal or non-Federal auditor during the reporting period and a summary of any particularly significant findings; and

(C) summarizes any matters relating to the personnel, programs, and operations of the Federal entity referred to prosecutive authorities, including a summary description of any preliminary investigation conducted by or at the request of the Federal entity concerning these matters, and the prosecutions and convictions which have resulted.

(Pub. L. 117–286, §3(b), Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4235.)

Amendments Not Shown in Text

This section was derived from section 8G of the Inspector General Act of 1978, Pub. L. 95–452, which was set out in the former Appendix to this title, and as it existed as of Oct. 19, 2021. Section 8G of Pub. L. 95–452 was amended by Pub. L. 117–108, title II, §209(a), Apr. 6, 2022, 136 Stat. 1151, and by Pub. L. 117–263, div. E, title LII, §§5202(a)(2), 5272(6), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3224, 3240, prior to being repealed and reenacted as this section by Pub. L. 117–286, §§3(b), 7, Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4235, 4361. For applicability of those amendments to this section, see section 5(b) of Pub. L. 117–286, set out in a Transitional and Savings Provisions note preceding section 101 of this title.

Section 8G of Pub. L. 95–452 was amended by Pub. L. 117–108 as follows:

(1) in subsection (a)(2), by striking "the Postal Regulatory Commission,"; and

(2) in subsection (f)—

(A) in paragraph (2), by inserting subparagraph (A) designation before "In carrying" and adding at the end the following:

"(B) In carrying out the duties and responsibilities specified in this Act, the Inspector General of the United States Postal Service shall function as the Inspector General for the Postal Regulatory Commission, and shall have equal responsibility over the United States Postal Service and the Postal Regulatory Commission. The Commission shall comply with the Inspector General's oversight as if the Commission were a designated Federal entity under subsection (a)(2) and as if the Inspector General were the inspector general of the Commission. The Governors of the Postal Service shall not direct oversight activities for the Postal Regulatory Commission.";

(B) in paragraph (3)—

(i) in subparagraph (A)(i), by inserting "pertaining to the United States Postal Service" after "subpoenas,";

(ii) in subparagraph (B)(i), by inserting "and the Postal Regulatory Commission" after "United States Postal Service"; and

(iii) in subparagraph (C), by inserting "or the Postal Regulatory Commission" after "Governors"; and

(C) by redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), and (6) as (5), (6), and (7), respectively, and adding after paragraph (3) the following:

"(4) For activities pertaining to the Postal Regulatory Commission, sections 4, 5, 6 (other than subsection (g) thereof), and 7 of this Act shall be applied by substituting the term 'head of the Postal Regulatory Commission' for 'head of the establishment'."

Section 8G of Pub. L. 95–452 was amended by Pub. L. 117–263 as follows:

(1) in subsection (e)—

(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting "or placement on non-duty status" after "a removal";

(B) in paragraph (2)—

(i) by inserting "(A)" after "(2)";

(ii) in subparagraph (A), as so designated, in the first sentence—

(I) by striking "reasons" and inserting "substantive rationale, including detailed and case-specific reasons,"; and

(II) by inserting "(including to the appropriate congressional committees)" after "Houses of Congress"; and

(iii) by adding at the end the following:

"(B) If there is an open or completed inquiry into an Inspector General that relates to the removal or transfer of the Inspector General under subparagraph (A), the written communication required under that subparagraph shall—

"(i) identify each entity that is conducting, or that conducted, the inquiry; and

"(ii) in the case of a completed inquiry, contain the findings made during the inquiry."; and

(C) by adding at the end the following:

"(3)(A) Subject to the other provisions of this paragraph, only the head of the applicable designated Federal entity (referred to in this paragraph as the 'covered official') may place an Inspector General on non-duty status.

"(B) If a covered official places an Inspector General on non-duty status, the covered official shall communicate in writing the substantive rationale, including detailed and case-specific reasons, for the change in status to both Houses of Congress (including to the appropriate congressional committees) not later than 15 days before the date on which the change in status takes effect, except that the covered official may submit that communication not later than the date on which the change in status takes effect if—

"(i) the covered official has made a determination that the continued presence of the Inspector General in the workplace poses a threat described in any of clauses (i) through (iv) of section 6329b(b)(2)(A) of title 5, United States Code; and

"(ii) in the communication, the covered official includes a report on the determination described in clause (i), which shall include—

"(I) a specification of which clause of section 6329b(b)(2)(A) of title 5, United States Code, the covered official has determined applies under clause (i) of this subparagraph;

"(II) the substantive rationale, including detailed and case-specific reasons, for the determination made under clause (i);

"(III) an identification of each entity that is conducting, or that conducted, any inquiry upon which the determination under clause (i) was made; and

"(IV) in the case of an inquiry described in subclause (III) that is completed, the findings made during that inquiry.

"(C) A covered official may not place an Inspector General on non-duty status during the 30-day period preceding the date on which the Inspector General is removed or transferred under paragraph (2)(A) unless the covered official—

"(i) has made a determination that the continued presence of the Inspector General in the workplace poses a threat described in any of clauses (i) through (iv) of section 6329b(b)(2)(A) of title 5, United States Code; and

"(ii) not later than the date on which the change in status takes effect, submits to both Houses of Congress (including to the appropriate congressional committees) a written communication that contains the information required under subparagraph (B), including the report required under clause (ii) of that subparagraph.

"(D) Nothing in this paragraph may be construed to limit or otherwise modify—

"(i) any statutory protection that is afforded to an Inspector General; or

"(ii) any other action that a covered official may take under law with respect to an Inspector General."; and

(2) in subsection (f)(3)—

(A) in subparagraph (A)(iii), by striking "Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight of the House of Representatives, and to other appropriate committees or subcommittees of the Congress" and inserting "the appropriate congressional committees"; and

(B) by striking subparagraph (C).

As enacted by Pub. L. 117–286, subsection (e)(2) of this section contains a heading after the paragraph designation. The amendment to section 8G of Pub. L. 95–452 inserting "(A)" after "(2)" amended text that did not contain a paragraph heading. The text directed to be stricken in subsection (f)(3)(A)(iii) did not appear exactly as quoted in the text enacted by Pub. L. 117–286. See Historical and Revision notes below.

For definition of "appropriate congressional committees" as seen in the above amendments by Pub. L. 117–263, see Amendments Not Shown in Text note set out under section 401 of this title.

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised 
Section
Source (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large)

415
5 U.S.C. App. (IGA §8G)
Pub. L. 95–452, §8G, formerly §8E, as added Pub. L. 100–504, title I, §104(a), Oct. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 2522; amended Pub. L. 101–73, title VII, §702(c), Aug. 9, 1989, 103 Stat. 415; renumbered §8F and amended Pub. L. 103–82, title II, §202(g)(1), (2)(A), Sept. 21, 1993, 107 Stat. 889, 890; renumbered §8G and amended Pub. L. 103–204, §23(a)(3), (4), Dec. 17, 1993, 107 Stat. 2408; Pub. L. 104–88, title III, §319, Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 949; Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, §101(f) [title VI, §662(b)(1), (2)], Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–314, 3009–379; Pub. L. 105–134, title IV, §409(a)(1), Dec. 2, 1997, 111 Stat. 2586; Pub. L. 105–277, div. C, title III, §306(h), as added Pub. L. 106–31, title I, §105(a)(5), May 21, 1999, 113 Stat. 63; Pub. L. 106–422, §1(b)(1), Nov. 1, 2000, 114 Stat. 1872; Pub. L. 107–252, title VIII, §812(a), Oct. 29, 2002, 116 Stat. 1727; Pub. L. 108–271, §8(b), July 7, 2004, 118 Stat. 814; Pub. L. 109–435, title VI, §§603(b), 605(a), Dec. 20, 2006, 120 Stat. 3240, 3242; Pub. L. 110–409, §§2, 3(b), 6(b), 7(d)(1), Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4302, 4305, 4313; Pub. L. 111–203, title IX, §§989B, 989D, title X, §1081, July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 1945, 1946, 2080; Pub. L. 111–259, title IV, §431(a), (c), Oct. 7, 2010, 124 Stat. 2731; Pub. L. 113–126, title IV, §§402(1), 412(1), July 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 1408, 1409; Pub. L. 114–113, div. H, title IV, §401(a), Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 2639; Pub. L. 114–317, §§6(4), 7(d)(2)(F), (3)(E), Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1604, 1606; Pub. L. 115–141, div. P, title V, §501(a)(1), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1090; Pub. L. 115–254, div. F, title I, §1414, Oct. 5, 2018, 132 Stat. 3492.

In subsection (a)(1)(A), the words "the Board for International Broadcasting" are omitted as obsolete. The Board for International Broadcasting was established by section 3(a) of the Board for International Broadcasting Act of 1973 (Public Law 93–129, 87 Stat. 457). The Board for International Broadcasting Act of 1973 was repealed by section 310(e) of the United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 (Public Law 103–236, title III, 108 Stat. 442).

In subsection (a)(1)(A), the words "the Federal Housing Finance Board" are omitted as obsolete because the Federal Housing Finance Board was abolished by section 1311 of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (Public Law 110–289, div. A, title III, 12 U.S.C. 4511 note).

In subsection (a)(1)(A), the words "the Panama Canal Commission" are omitted as obsolete because of section 1305 of the Panama Canal Act of 1979 (22 U.S.C. 3714a).

In subsection (a)(1), subparagraph (B) restates the amendment made by section 409(a) of the Amtrak Reform and Accountability Act of 1997 (Public Law 105–134, 111 Stat. 2586). That provision amended section 8G(a)(2) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 by striking "Amtrak" from the definition of "designated Federal entity". However, the amendment was enacted with a conditional effective date; it will take effect at the beginning of the first fiscal year after a fiscal year for which Amtrak receives no Federal subsidy. The conditional effective date creates uncertainty because it cannot be known in advance when the condition will be met and the amendment will take effect. In subsection (a)(1), subparagraph (B) explicitly incorporates the amendatory language and the conditional effective date within the restatement text in order to clarify that although "Amtrak" is currently included in the definition of "designated Federal entity", it is automatically struck from the definition, without further congressional action, whenever the specified condition is met.

In subsection (f)(3), in subparagraph (A)(iii) and subparagraph (C), the words "[Committee] on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs [of the Senate]" are substituted for "[Committee] on Governmental Affairs [of the Senate]" because of Senate Resolution No. 445, 108th Congress, October 9, 2004 (effective January 4, 2005).

In subsection (f)(3), in subparagraph (A)(iii) and subparagraph (C), the words "Committee on Oversight and Reform" are substituted for "Committee on Government Reform and Oversight" on authority of rule X(1)(n) of the Rules of the House of Representatives, adopted by House Resolution No. 6 (116th Congress, January 9, 2019).

In subsection (f)(3)(B)(ii), the word "ensuring" is substituted for "insuring" for clarity.

In subsection (g)(3), the words "Notwithstanding the last sentence of subsection (d)(1) of this section" are substituted for "Notwithstanding the last sentence of subsection (d) of this section" for clarity and to correct an obsolete reference in the law. In section 8G of the Inspector General Act of 1978, subsection (d) was redesignated as subsection (d)(1) by section 431(c)(1) of the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 111–259, 124 Stat. 2731).

In subsection (h)(1), the words "Each year," are substituted for "No later than April 30, 1989, and annually thereafter," to eliminate obsolete language.

In subsection (h)(2), the words "On October 31 of each year," are substituted for "Beginning on October 31, 1989, and on October 31 of each succeeding calendar year," to eliminate obsolete language.

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The National Labor Relations Act, referred to in subsec. (f)(4), is act July 5, 1935, ch. 372, 49 Stat. 449, which is classified generally to subchapter II (§151 et seq.) of chapter 7 of Title 29, Labor. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 167 of Title 29 and Tables.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Committee on Oversight and Reform of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Oversight and Accountability of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Eighteenth Congress, Jan. 9, 2023.

Savings Provision; References to Inspector General of the Postal Regulatory Commission

Pub. L. 117–108, title II, §209(c), Apr. 6, 2022, 136 Stat. 1152, provided that:

"(1) Personnel, documents, assets.—All personnel, documents, assets, unexpended balances of appropriations, and obligations of the Inspector General for the Postal Regulatory Commission shall transfer to the Inspector General of the Postal Service on the effective date of this section [see section 209(e) of Pub. L. 117–108, set out as an Effective Date of 2022 Amendent note under section 202 of Title 39, Postal Service].

"(2) Legal documents.—Any order, determination, rule, regulation, permit, grant, loan, contract, agreement, certificate, license, or privilege that has been issued, made, granted, or allowed to become effective by the Inspector General of the Postal Regulatory Commission that is in effect on the effective date of this section shall continue in effect according to their terms until modified, terminated, superseded, set aside, or revoked in accordance with law.

"(3) Proceedings.—This section and the amendments made by this section shall not affect any proceeding pending on the effective date of this section before the Inspector General of the Postal Regulatory Commission, but such proceeding shall be continued by the Inspector General of the Postal Service, at the discretion of that Inspector General. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prohibit the discontinuance or modification of any such proceeding under the same terms and conditions and to the same extent that the proceeding could have been discontinued or modified if this section and those amendments had not been enacted.

"(4) Suits.—This section and the amendments made by this section shall not affect any suit commenced before the effective date of this section, and in any such suit, proceeding shall be had, appeals taken, and judgments rendered in the same manner and with the same effect as if this section or such amendments had not been enacted.

"(5) References.—Any reference in any other Federal law, Executive order, rule, regulation, or delegation of authority, or any document relating to the Inspector General of the Postal Regulatory Commission shall be deemed to refer to the Inspector General of the United States Postal Service."

[For definition of "Postal Service" as used in section 209(c) of Pub. L. 117–108, set out above, see section 102 of Title 39, Postal Service, as made applicable by section 2(b) of Pub. L. 117–108, which is set out as a note under section 501 of Title 39.]

Inspector General Oversight of Fund

Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title XV, §1521(e), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1714, provided that:

"(1) Quality standards for ig products.—Except as provided in paragraph (3), each product published or issued by an Inspector General relating to the oversight of programs and activities funded under the Afghanistan Security Forces Fund shall be prepared—

"(A) in accordance with the Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards/Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS/GAS), as issued and updated by the Government Accountability Office; or

"(B) if not prepared in accordance with the standards referred to in subparagraph (A), in accordance with the Quality Standards for Inspection and Evaluation issued by the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (commonly referred to as the 'CIGIE Blue Book').

"(2) Specification of quality standards followed.—Each product published or issued by an Inspector General relating to the oversight of programs and activities funded under the Afghanistan Security Forces Fund shall cite within such product the quality standards followed in conducting and reporting the work concerned.

"(3) Waiver.—The Lead Inspector General for Operation Freedom's Sentinel may waive the applicability of paragraph (1) to a specific product relating to the oversight by an Inspector General of activities and programs funded under the Afghanistan Security Forces Fund if the Lead Inspector General determines that the waiver would facilitate timely efforts to promote efficiency and effectiveness and prevent, detect, and deter fraud, waste, and abuse. Any product published or issued pursuant to a waiver under this paragraph shall include a statement that work for such product was not conducted in accordance with the standards referred to in paragraph (1) and an explanation why such standards were not employed."

Inspector General for Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled

Pub. L. 114–113, div. H, title IV, §401(b), Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 2640, provided that: "Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 18, 2015], the Chairman of the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled shall appoint an Inspector General for the Committee."

[Pub. L. 114–113, div. H, title IV, §401(c), Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 2640, provided that: "This section [amending former section 8G of Pub. L. 95–452 (see this section), and enacting provisions set out as a note above], and the amendments made by this section, shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 18, 2015]."]

Amtrak Inspector General

Pub. L. 114–94, div. A, title XI, §11314, Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1674, as amended by Pub. L. 117–286, §4(b)(13), Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4344, provided that:

"(a) Authority.—

"(1) In general.—The Inspector General of Amtrak shall have the authority available to other Inspectors General, as necessary in carrying out the duties specified in chapter 4 of title 5, United States Code, to investigate any alleged violation of sections 286, 287, 371, 641, 1001, 1002 and 1516 of title 18, United States Code.

"(2) Agency.—For purposes of sections 286, 287, 371, 641, 1001, 1002, and 1516 of title 18, United States Code, Amtrak and the Amtrak Office of Inspector General, shall be considered a corporation in which the United States has a proprietary interest as set forth in section 6 of such title.

"(b) Assessment.—The Inspector General of Amtrak shall—

"(1) not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 4, 2015], initiate an assessment to determine whether current expenditures or procurements involving Amtrak's fulfillment of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) utilize competitive, market-driven provisions that are applicable throughout the entire term of such related expenditures or procurements; and

"(2) not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, transmit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives the assessment under paragraph (1).

"(c) Limitation.—The authority provided by subsection (a) shall be effective only with respect to a fiscal year for which Amtrak receives a Federal subsidy."

Inspector General at the Commission on Civil Rights

Pub. L. 113–76, div. B, title IV, Jan. 17, 2014, 128 Stat. 75, provided in part: "That the Inspector General for the Commission on Civil Rights (CCR IG), as provided in Public Law 113–6 [set out below], is authorized to close out all work related to pending or closed investigations, to complete pending investigations, and to terminate all activities related to the duties, responsibilities and authorities of the CCR IG: Provided further, That when the CCR IG concludes that all pending investigations have been completed, all work related to pending or closed investigations has been closed out, and all activities related to the duties, responsibilities and authorities of the CCR IG have ended, the CCR IG shall certify that conclusion to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate, and the Office of the CCR IG shall then be terminated".

Pub. L. 113–6, div. B, title IV, Mar. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 266, as amended by Pub. L. 117–286, §4(b)(14), Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4344, provided in part: "That there shall be an Inspector General at the Commission on Civil Rights who shall have the duties, responsibilities, and authorities specified in chapter 4 of title 5, United States Code: Provided further, That an individual appointed to the position of Inspector General of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) shall, by virtue of such appointment, also hold the position of Inspector General of the Commission on Civil Rights: Provided further, That the Inspector General of the Commission on Civil Rights shall utilize personnel of the Office of Inspector General of GAO in performing the duties of the Inspector General of the Commission on Civil Rights, and shall not appoint any individuals to positions within the Commission on Civil Rights".

Similar provisions were contained in the following prior appropriation act:

Pub. L. 112–55, div. B, title IV, Nov. 18, 2011, 125 Stat. 628.

Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction

Pub. L. 118–159, div. G, title LXXVIII, §7809(b)–(e), Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 2562, 2563, provided that:

"(b) Eligibility for ICTAP.—Any individual who is an employee of the Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction on the date of the enactment of this section [Dec. 23, 2024] shall be—

"(1) given priority consideration for appointment under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program under subpart G of part 330 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation), subject to the terms and conditions of such Program; and

"(2) considered to be displaced and ICTAP-eligible as those terms are defined in section 330.702 of such subpart (or any successor regulation) for purposes of the Program; and

"(3) considered to have established proof of eligibility under section 330.710 of such subpart (or any successor regulation) for the purposes of the Program.

"(c) Appointment to the Competitive Service.—Any individual described in subsection (b) who is found to be well qualified for a position may be appointed in the competitive service without competitive examination.

"(d) Regulations.—The Director of the Office of Personnel Management may prescribe regulations for the administration of this section.

"(e) Use of Unobligated Funds.—Any unobligated funds remaining available for the Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction on February 1, 2026, may be used by the Office of Inspector General of the Department of State."

Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title XII, §1229, Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 378, as amended by Pub. L. 110–417, [div. A], title X, §1061(b)(11), Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4613; Pub. L. 111–38, §1, June 30, 2009, 123 Stat. 1932; Pub. L. 117–286, §4(b)(15), Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4344; Pub. L. 118–159, div. G, title LXXVIII, §7809(a), Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 2562, provided that:

"(a) Purposes.—The purposes of this section are as follows:

"(1) To provide for the independent and objective conduct and supervision of audits and investigations relating to the programs and operations funded with amounts appropriated or otherwise made available for the reconstruction of Afghanistan.

"(2) To provide for the independent and objective leadership and coordination of, and recommendations on, policies designed to—

"(A) promote economy efficiency, and effectiveness in the administration of the programs and operations described in paragraph (1); and

"(B) prevent and detect waste, fraud, and abuse in such programs and operations.

"(3) To provide for an independent and objective means of keeping the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense fully and currently informed about problems and deficiencies relating to the administration of such programs and operations and the necessity for and progress on corrective action.

"(b) Office of Inspector General.—There is hereby established the Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction to carry out the purposes of subsection (a).

"(c) Appointment of Inspector General; Removal.—

"(1) Appointment.—The head of the Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction is the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (in this section referred to as the 'Inspector General'), who shall be appointed by the President. The President may appoint the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction to serve as the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, in which case the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction shall have all of the duties, responsibilities, and authorities set forth under this section with respect to such appointed position for the purpose of carrying out this section.

"(2) Qualifications.—The appointment of the Inspector General shall be made solely on the basis of integrity and demonstrated ability in accounting, auditing, financial analysis, law, management analysis, public administration, or investigations.

"(3) Deadline for appointment.—The appointment of an individual as Inspector General shall be made not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Jan. 28, 2008].

"(4) Compensation.—The annual rate of basic pay of the Inspector General shall be the annual rate of basic pay provided for positions at level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code.

"(5) Prohibition on political activities.—For purposes of section 7324 of title 5, United States Code, the Inspector General shall not be considered an employee who determines policies to be pursued by the United States in the nationwide administration of Federal law.

"(6) Removal.—The Inspector General shall be removable from office in accordance with the provisions of section 403(b) of title 5, United States Code.

"(d) Assistant Inspectors General.—The Inspector General shall, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations governing the civil service—

"(1) appoint an Assistant Inspector General for Auditing who shall have the responsibility for supervising the performance of auditing activities relating to programs and operations supported by amounts appropriated or otherwise made available for the reconstruction of Afghanistan; and

"(2) appoint an Assistant Inspector General for Investigations who shall have the responsibility for supervising the performance of investigative activities relating to such programs and operations.

"(e) Supervision.—

"(1) In general.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Inspector General shall report directly to, and be under the general supervision of, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense.

"(2) Independence to conduct investigations and audits.—No officer of the Department of Defense, the Department of State, or the United States Agency for International Development shall prevent or prohibit the Inspector General from initiating, carrying out, or completing any audit or investigation related to amounts appropriated or otherwise made available for the reconstruction of Afghanistan or from issuing any subpoena during the course of any such audit or investigation.

"(f) Duties.—

"(1) Oversight of afghanistan reconstruction.—It shall be the duty of the Inspector General to conduct, supervise, and coordinate audits and investigations of the treatment, handling, and expenditure of amounts appropriated or otherwise made available for the reconstruction of Afghanistan, and of the programs, operations, and contracts carried out utilizing such funds, including—

"(A) the oversight and accounting of the obligation and expenditure of such funds;

"(B) the monitoring and review of reconstruction activities funded by such funds;

"(C) the monitoring and review of contracts funded by such funds;

"(D) the monitoring and review of the transfer of such funds and associated information between and among departments, agencies, and entities of the United States and private and nongovernmental entities;

"(E) the maintenance of records on the use of such funds to facilitate future audits and investigations of the use of such fund;

"(F) the monitoring and review of the effectiveness of United States coordination with the Government of Afghanistan and other donor countries in the implementation of the Afghanistan Compact and the Afghanistan National Development Strategy; and

"(G) the investigation of overpayments such as duplicate payments or duplicate billing and any potential unethical or illegal actions of Federal employees, contractors, or affiliated entities and the referral of such reports, as necessary, to the Department of Justice to ensure further investigations, prosecutions, recovery of further funds, or other remedies.

"(2) Other duties related to oversight.—The Inspector General shall establish, maintain, and oversee such systems, procedures, and controls as the Inspector General considers appropriate to discharge the duties under paragraph (1).

"(3) Duties and responsibilities under chapter 4 of title 5, united states code.—In addition to the duties specified in paragraphs (1) and (2), the Inspector General shall also have the duties and responsibilities of inspectors general under chapter 4 of title 5, United States Code.

"(4) Coordination of efforts.—In carrying out the duties, responsibilities, and authorities of the Inspector General under this section, the Inspector General shall coordinate with, and receive the cooperation of each of the following:

"(A) The Inspector General of the Department of Defense.

"(B) The Inspector General of the Department of State.

"(C) The Inspector General of the United States Agency for International Development.

"(g) Powers and Authorities.—

"(1) Authorities under chapter 4 of title 5, united states code.—In carrying out the duties specified in subsection (f), the Inspector General shall have the authorities provided in section 406 of title 5, United States Code, including the authorities under subsection (e) [now (f)] of such section.

"(2) Audit standards.—The Inspector General shall carry out the duties specified in subsection (f)(1) in accordance with section 404(b)(1) of title 5, United States Code.

"(h) Personnel, Facilities, and Other Resources.—

"(1) Personnel.—

"(A) In general.—The Inspector General may select, appoint, and employ such officers and employees as may be necessary for carrying out the duties of the Inspector General, subject to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, and the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title, relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates.

"(B) Additional authorities.—

"(i) In general.—Subject to clause (ii), the Inspector General may exercise the authorities of subsections (b) through (i) of section 3161 of title 5, United States Code (without regard to subsection (a) of that section).

"(ii) Periods of appointments.—In exercising the employment authorities under subsection (b) of section 3161 of title 5, United States Code, as provided under clause (i) of this subparagraph—

     "(I) paragraph (2) of that subsection (relating to periods of appointments) shall not apply; and

     "(II) no period of appointment may exceed the date on which the Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction terminates under subsection (o).

"(2) Employment of experts and consultants.—The Inspector General may obtain services as authorized by section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, at daily rates not to exceed the equivalent rate prescribed for grade GS–15 of the General Schedule by section 5332 of such title.

"(3) Contracting authority.—To the extent and in such amounts as may be provided in advance by appropriations Acts, the Inspector General may enter into contracts and other arrangements for audits, studies, analyses, and other services with public agencies and with private persons, and make such payments as may be necessary to carry out the duties of the Inspector General.

"(4) Resources.—The Secretary of State or the Secretary of Defense, as appropriate, shall provide the Inspector General with appropriate and adequate office space at appropriate locations of the Department of State or the Department of Defense, as the case may be, in Afghanistan, together with such equipment, office supplies, and communications facilities and services as may be necessary for the operation of such offices, and shall provide necessary maintenance services for such offices and the equipment and facilities located therein.

"(5) Assistance from federal agencies.—

"(A) In general.—Upon request of the Inspector General for information or assistance from any department, agency, or other entity of the Federal Government, the head of such entity shall, insofar as is practicable and not in contravention of any existing law, furnish such information or assistance to the Inspector General, or an authorized designee.

"(B) Reporting of refused assistance.—Whenever information or assistance requested by the Inspector General is, in the judgment of the Inspector General, unreasonably refused or not provided, the Inspector General shall report the circumstances to the Secretary of State or the Secretary of Defense, as appropriate, and to the appropriate congressional committees without delay.

"(6) Use of personnel, facilities, and other resources of the office of the special inspector general for iraq reconstruction.—Upon the request of the Inspector General, the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction—

"(A) may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of the Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction to the Office of the Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction for the purpose of carrying out this section; and

"(B) may provide, on a reimbursable basis, any of the facilities or other resources of the Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction to the Office of the Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction for the purpose of carrying out this section.

"(i) Reports.—

"(1) Quarterly reports.—Not later than 30 days after the end of each fiscal-year quarter, the Inspector General shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report summarizing, for the period of that quarter and, to the extent possible, the period from the end of such quarter to the time of the submission of the report, the activities during such period of the Inspector General and the activities under programs and operations funded with amounts appropriated or otherwise made available for the reconstruction of Afghanistan. Each report shall include, for the period covered by such report, a detailed statement of all obligations, expenditures, and revenues associated with reconstruction and rehabilitation activities in Afghanistan, including the following:

"(A) Obligations and expenditures of appropriated funds.

"(B) A project-by-project and program-by-program accounting of the costs incurred to date for the reconstruction of Afghanistan, together with the estimate of the Department of Defense, the Department of State, and the United States Agency for International Development, as applicable, of the costs to complete each project and each program.

"(C) Revenues attributable to or consisting of funds provided by foreign nations or international organizations to programs and projects funded by any department or agency of the United States Government, and any obligations or expenditures of such revenues.

"(D) Revenues attributable to or consisting of foreign assets seized or frozen that contribute to programs and projects funded by any department or agency of the United States Government, and any obligations or expenditures of such revenues.

"(E) Operating expenses of agencies or entities receiving amounts appropriated or otherwise made available for the reconstruction of Afghanistan.

"(F) In the case of any contract, grant, agreement, or other funding mechanism described in paragraph (2)—

"(i) the amount of the contract, grant, agreement, or other funding mechanism;

"(ii) a brief discussion of the scope of the contract, grant, agreement, or other funding mechanism;

"(iii) a discussion of how the department or agency of the United States Government involved in the contract, grant, agreement, or other funding mechanism identified, and solicited offers from, potential individuals or entities to perform the contract, grant, agreement, or other funding mechanism, together with a list of the potential individuals or entities that were issued solicitations for the offers; and

"(iv) the justification and approval documents on which was based the determination to use procedures other than procedures that provide for full and open competition.

"(2) Covered contracts, grants, agreements, and funding mechanisms.—A contract, grant, agreement, or other funding mechanism described in this paragraph is any major contract, grant, agreement, or other funding mechanism that is entered into by any department or agency of the United States Government that involves the use of amounts appropriated or otherwise made available for the reconstruction of Afghanistan with any public or private sector entity for any of the following purposes:

"(A) To build or rebuild physical infrastructure of Afghanistan.

"(B) To establish or reestablish a political or societal institution of Afghanistan.

"(C) To provide products or services to the people of Afghanistan.

"(3) Public availability.—The Inspector General shall publish on a publicly-available Internet website each report under paragraph (1) of this subsection in English and other languages that the Inspector General determines are widely used and understood in Afghanistan.

"(4) Form.—Each report required under this subsection shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex if the Inspector General considers it necessary.

"(5) Rule of construction.—Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to authorize the public disclosure of information that is—

"(A) specifically prohibited from disclosure by any other provision of law;

"(B) specifically required by Executive order to be protected from disclosure in the interest of national defense or national security or in the conduct of foreign affairs; or

"(C) a part of an ongoing criminal investigation.

"(j) Report Coordination.—

"(1) Submission to secretaries of state and defense.—The Inspector General shall also submit each report required under subsection (i) to the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense.

"(2) Submission to congress.—Not later than 30 days after receipt of a report under paragraph (1), the Secretary of State or the Secretary of Defense may submit to the appropriate congressional committees any comments on the matters covered by the report as the Secretary of State or the Secretary of Defense, as the case may be, considers appropriate. Any comments on the matters covered by the report shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex if the Secretary of State or the Secretary of Defense, as the case may be, considers it necessary.

"(k) Transparency.—

"(1) Report.—Not later than 60 days after submission to the appropriate congressional committees of a report under subsection (i), the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense shall jointly make copies of the report available to the public upon request, and at a reasonable cost.

"(2) Comments on matters covered by report.—Not later than 60 days after submission to the appropriate congressional committees under subsection (j)(2) of comments on a report under subsection (i), the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense shall jointly make copies of the comments available to the public upon request, and at a reasonable cost.

"(l) Waiver.—

"(1) Authority.—The President may waive the requirement under paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (k) with respect to availability to the public of any element in a report under subsection (i), or any comment under subsection (j)(2), if the President determines that the waiver is justified for national security reasons.

"(2) Notice of waiver.—The President shall publish a notice of each waiver made under this subsection in the Federal Register no later than the date on which a report required under subsection (i), or any comment under subsection (j)(2), is submitted to the appropriate congressional committees. The report and comments shall specify whether waivers under this subsection were made and with respect to which elements in the report or which comments, as appropriate.

"(m) Definitions.—In this section:

"(1) Amounts appropriated or otherwise made available for the reconstruction of afghanistan.—The term 'amounts appropriated or otherwise made available for the reconstruction of Afghanistan' means—

"(A) amounts appropriated or otherwise made available for any fiscal year—

"(i) to the Afghanistan Security Forces Fund; or

"(ii) to the program to assist the people of Afghanistan established under subsection (a)(2) of section 1202 of the National Defense Authorization for Fiscal Year 2006 (Public Law 109–163; 119 Stat. 3455–3456); and

"(B) amounts appropriated or otherwise made available for any fiscal year for the reconstruction of Afghanistan under—

"(i) the Economic Support Fund;

"(ii) the International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement account; or

"(iii) any other provision of law.

"(2) Appropriate congressional committees.—The term 'appropriate congressional committees' means—

"(A) the Committees on Appropriations, Armed Services, and Foreign Relations of the Senate; and

"(B) the Committees on Appropriations, Armed Services, and Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.

"(n) Authorization of Appropriations.—

"(1) In general.—There is authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2008 to carry out this section.

"(2) Offset.—The amount authorized to be appropriated by section 1513 [122 Stat. 428] for the Afghanistan Security Forces Fund is hereby reduced by $20,000,000.

"(o) Termination.—

"(1) In general.—The Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction shall terminate on January 31, 2026.

"(2) Final report.—The Inspector General shall, prior to the termination of the Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction under paragraph (1), prepare and submit to the appropriate congressional committees a final forensic audit report on programs and operations funded with amounts appropriated or otherwise made available for the reconstruction of Afghanistan."

Inspector General of Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board

Pub. L. 118–42, div. E, title III, Mar. 9, 2024, 138 Stat. 278, provided in part: "That notwithstanding any other provision of law, the individual appointed to the position of Inspector General of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shall, by virtue of such appointment, also hold the position of Inspector General of the Board: Provided further, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Inspector General of the Board shall utilize personnel of the Office of Inspector General of EPA in performing the duties of the Inspector General of the Board, and shall not appoint any individuals to positions within the Board."

Similar provisions were contained in the following prior appropriation acts:

Pub. L. 117–328, div. G, title III, Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 4813.

Pub. L. 117–103, div. G, title III, Mar. 15, 2022, 136 Stat. 402.

Pub. L. 116–260, div. G, title III, Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 1529.

Pub. L. 116–94, div. D, title III, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 2735.

Pub. L. 116–6, div. E, title III, Feb. 15, 2019, 133 Stat. 252.

Pub. L. 115–141, div. G, title III, Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 681.

Pub. L. 115–31, div. G, title III, May 5, 2017, 131 Stat. 488.

Pub. L. 114–113, div. G, title III, Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 2569.

Pub. L. 113–235, div. F, title III, Dec. 16, 2014, 128 Stat. 2438.

Pub. L. 113–76, div. G, title III, Jan. 17, 2014, 128 Stat. 332.

Pub. L. 112–74, div. E, title III, Dec. 23, 2011, 125 Stat. 1031.

Pub. L. 111–88, div. A, title III, Oct. 30, 2009, 123 Stat. 2950.

Pub. L. 111–8, div. E, title III, Mar. 11, 2009, 123 Stat. 739.

Pub. L. 110–161, div. F, title III, Dec. 26, 2007, 121 Stat. 2139.

Pub. L. 109–54, title III, Aug. 2, 2005, 119 Stat. 543.

Pub. L. 108–447, div. I, title III, Dec. 8, 2004, 118 Stat. 3322.

Pub. L. 108–199, div. G, title III, Jan. 23, 2004, 118 Stat. 399.

Pub. L. 107–73, title III, Nov. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 679, as amended by Pub. L. 117–286, §4(b)(16), Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4345, provided in part: "That, hereafter, there shall be an Inspector General at the [Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation] Board who shall have the duties, responsibilities, and authorities specified in chapter 4 of title 5, United States Code: Provided further, That an individual appointed to the position of Inspector General of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) shall, by virtue of such appointment, also hold the position of Inspector General of the Board: Provided further, That the Inspector General of the Board shall utilize personnel of the Office of Inspector General of FEMA in performing the duties of the Inspector General of the Board, and shall not appoint any individuals to positions within the Board."

[For transfer of all functions, personnel, assets, components, authorities, grant programs, and liabilities of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, including the functions of the Under Secretary for Federal Emergency Management relating thereto, to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, see section 315(a)(1) of Title 6, Domestic Security.]

[For transfer of functions, personnel, assets, and liabilities of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, including the functions of the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency relating thereto, to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see former section 313(1) and sections 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.]

Similar provisions were contained in the following prior appropriations act:

Pub. L. 106–377, §1(a)(1) [title III], Oct. 27, 2000, 114 Stat. 1441, 1441A–36.

Pub. L. 108–7, div. K, title III, Feb. 20, 2003, 117 Stat. 515, provided in part: "That notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Inspector General of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall hereafter also serve as the Inspector General of the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board."

Similar provisions were contained in the following prior appropriations acts:

Pub. L. 107–73, title III, Nov. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 688.

Pub. L. 106–377, §1(a)(1) [title III], Oct. 27, 2000, 114 Stat. 1441, 1441A–46.

Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction

Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title XII, §1203(b), Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 2079, provided that: "The individual serving as the Inspector General of the Coalition Provisional Authority as of the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 28, 2004] may continue to serve in that position after that date without reappointment under paragraph (1) of section 3001(c) of the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense and for the Reconstruction of Iraq and Afghanistan, 2004 [Pub. L. 108–106, set out below], but remaining subject to removal as specified in paragraph (4) of that section."

Pub. L. 108–106, title III, §3001, Nov. 6, 2003, 117 Stat. 1234, as amended by Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title XII, §1203(a)(1)–(3)(A), (c)–(j), Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 2078–2081; Pub. L. 109–102, title V, §599, Nov. 14, 2005, 119 Stat. 2240; Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title X, §§1054(b), 1071(g)(13), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2397, 2403; Pub. L. 109–440, §2, Dec. 20, 2006, 120 Stat. 3286; Pub. L. 110–28, title III, §3801, May 25, 2007, 121 Stat. 147; Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title XII, §1221, Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 371; Pub. L. 117–286, §4(b)(17), Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4345, provided that:

"(a) Purposes.—The purposes of this section are as follows:

"(1) To provide for the independent and objective conduct and supervision of audits and investigations relating to the programs and operations funded with amounts appropriated or otherwise made available for the reconstruction of Iraq.

"(2) To provide for the independent and objective leadership and coordination of, and recommendations on, policies designed to—

"(A) promote economy efficiency, and effectiveness in the administration of such programs and operations; and

"(B) prevent and detect waste, fraud, and abuse in such programs and operations.

"(3) To provide for an independent and objective means of keeping the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense fully and currently informed about problems and deficiencies relating to the administration of such programs and operations and the necessity for and progress for corrective action.

"(b) Office of Inspector General.—There is hereby established the Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction.

"(c) Appointment of Inspector General; Removal.—(1) The head of the Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction is the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (in this section referred to as the 'Inspector General'), who shall be appointed by the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State.

"(2) The appointment of Inspector General shall be made solely on the basis of integrity and demonstrated ability in accounting, auditing, financial analysis, law, management analysis, public administration, or investigations.

"(3) The nomination of an individual as Inspector General shall be made not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 6, 2003].

"(4) The Inspector General shall be removable from office in accordance with the provisions of section 403(b) of title 5, United States Code.

"(5) For purposes of section 7324 of title 5, United States Code, the Inspector General shall not be considered an employee who determines policies to be pursued by the United States in the nationwide administration of Federal law.

"(6) The annual rate of basic pay of the Inspector General shall be the annual rate of basic pay provided for positions at level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code.

"(d) Assistant Inspectors General.—The Inspector General shall, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations governing the civil service—

"(1) appoint an Assistant Inspector General for Auditing who shall have the responsibility for supervising the performance of auditing activities relating to programs and operations supported by amounts appropriated or otherwise made available for the reconstruction of Iraq; and

"(2) appoint an Assistant Inspector General for Investigations who shall have the responsibility for supervising the performance of investigative activities relating to such programs and operations.

"(e) Supervision.—(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Inspector General shall report directly to, and be under the general supervision of, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense.

"(2) No officer of the Department of Defense, the Department of State, or the United States Agency for International Development shall prevent or prohibit the Inspector General from initiating, carrying out, or completing any audit or investigation related to amounts appropriated or otherwise made available for the reconstruction of Iraq or from issuing any subpoena during the course of any such audit or investigation.

"(f) Duties.—(1) It shall be the duty of the Inspector General to conduct, supervise, and coordinate audits and investigations of the treatment, handling, and expenditure of amounts appropriated or otherwise made available for the reconstruction of Iraq, and of the programs, operations, and contracts carried out utilizing such funds, including—

"(A) the oversight and accounting of the obligation and expenditure of such funds;

"(B) the monitoring and review of reconstruction activities funded by such funds;

"(C) the monitoring and review of contracts funded by such funds;

"(D) the monitoring and review of the transfer of such funds and associated information between and among departments, agencies, and entities of the United States and private and nongovernmental entities; and

"(E) the maintenance of records on the use of such funds to facilitate future audits and investigations of the use of such funds.

"(2) The Inspector General shall establish, maintain, and oversee such systems, procedures, and controls as the Inspector General considers appropriate to discharge the duty under paragraph (1).

"(3) In addition to the duties specified in paragraphs (1) and (2), the Inspector General shall also have the duties and responsibilities of inspectors general under chapter 4 of title 5, United States Code.

"(4) In carrying out the duties, responsibilities, and authorities of the Inspector General under this section, the Inspector General shall coordinate with, and receive the cooperation of, each of the following:

"(A) The Inspector General of the Department of State.

"(B) The Inspector General of the Department of Defense.

"(C) The Inspector General of the United States Agency for International Development.

"(g) Powers and Authorities.—(1) In carrying out the duties specified in subsection (f), the Inspector General shall have the authorities provided in section 406 of title 5, United States Code, including the authorities under subsection (e) [now (f)] of such section.

"(2) The Inspector General shall carry out the duties specified in subsection (f)(1) in accordance with section 404(b)(1) of title 5, United States Code.

"(h) Personnel, Facilities, and Other Resources.—(1) The Inspector General may select, appoint, and employ such officers and employees as may be necessary for carrying out the duties of the Inspector General, subject to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, and the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title, relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates, and may exercise the authorities of subsections (b) through (i) of section 3161 of title 5, United States Code (without regard to subsection (a) of such section).

"(2) The Inspector General may obtain services as authorized by section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, at daily rates not to exceed the equivalent rate prescribed for grade GS–15 of the General Schedule by section 5332 of such title.

"(3) To the extent and in such amounts as may be provided in advance by appropriations Acts, the Inspector General may enter into contracts and other arrangements for audits, studies, analyses, and other services with public agencies and with private persons, and make such payments as may be necessary to carry out the duties of the Inspector General.

"(4)(A) Upon request of the Inspector General for information or assistance from any department, agency, or other entity of the Federal Government, the head of such entity shall, insofar as is practicable and not in contravention of any existing law, furnish such information or assistance to the Inspector General, or an authorized designee.

"(B) Whenever information or assistance requested by the Inspector General is, in the judgment of the Inspector General, unreasonably refused or not provided, the Inspector General shall report the circumstances to the Secretary of State or Secretary of Defense, as appropriate, and to the appropriate committees of Congress without delay.

"(5) The Secretary of State or Secretary of Defense, as appropriate, shall provide the Inspector General with appropriate and adequate office space within the Department of Defense or at appropriate locations of the Department of State in Iraq, together with such equipment, office supplies, and communications facilities and services as may be necessary for the operation of such offices, and shall provide necessary maintenance services for such offices and the equipment and facilities located therein.

"(i) Reports.—(1) Not later than 30 days after the end of each fiscal-year quarter, the Inspector General shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report summarizing, for the period of that quarter and, to the extent possible, the period from the end of such quarter to the time of the submission of the report, the activities during such period of the Inspector General and the activities under programs and operations funded with amounts appropriated or otherwise made available for the reconstruction of Iraq. Each report shall include, for the period covered by such report, a detailed statement of all obligations, expenditures, and revenues associated with reconstruction and rehabilitation activities in Iraq, including the following:

"(A) Obligations and expenditures of appropriated funds.

"(B) A project-by-project and program-by-program accounting of the costs incurred to date for the reconstruction of Iraq, together with the estimate of the Department of Defense, the Department of State, and the United States Agency for International Development, as applicable, of the costs to complete each project and each program.

"(C) Revenues attributable to or consisting of funds provided by foreign nations or international organizations, and any obligations or expenditures of such revenues.

"(D) Revenues attributable to or consisting of foreign assets seized or frozen, and any obligations or expenditures of such revenues.

"(E) Operating expenses of agencies or entities receiving amounts appropriated or otherwise made available for the reconstruction of Iraq.

"(F) In the case of any contract described in paragraph (2)—

"(i) the amount of the contract or other agreement;

"(ii) a brief discussion of the scope of the contract or other agreement;

"(iii) a discussion of how the contracting department or agency identified, and solicited offers from, potential contractors to perform the contract, together with a list of the potential contractors that were issued solicitations for the offers; and

"(iv) the justification and approval documents on which was based the determination to use procedures other than procedures that provide for full and open competition.

"(2) A contract described in this paragraph is any major contract or other agreement that is entered into by any department or agency of the United States Government that involves the use of amounts appropriated or otherwise made available for the reconstruction of Iraq with any public or private sector entity for any of the following purposes:

"(A) To build or rebuild physical infrastructure of Iraq.

"(B) To establish or reestablish a political or societal institution of Iraq.

"(C) To provide products or services to the people of Iraq.

"(3) The Inspector General shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress semiannual reports meeting the requirements of section 405 of title 5, United States Code. The first such report for a year, covering the first six months of the year, shall be submitted not later than July 31 of that year, and the second such report, covering the second six months of the year, shall be submitted not later than January 31 of the following year.

"(4) The Inspector General shall publish each report under this subsection in both English and Arabic on the Internet website of the Department of State and of the Department of Defense.

"(5) Each report under this subsection may include a classified annex if the Inspector General considers it necessary.

"(6) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to authorize the public disclosure of information that is—

"(A) specifically prohibited from disclosure by any other provision of law;

"(B) specifically required by Executive order to be protected from disclosure in the interest of national defense or national security or in the conduct of foreign affairs; or

"(C) a part of an ongoing criminal investigation.

"(j) Report Coordination.—(1) The Inspector General shall also submit each report under subsection (i) to the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense.

"(2)(A) Not later than 30 days after receipt of a report under paragraph (1), the Secretary of State or the Secretary of Defense may submit to the appropriate committees of Congress any comments on the matters covered by the report as the Secretary of State or the Secretary of Defense, as the case may be, considers appropriate.

"(B) A report under this paragraph may include a classified annex if the Secretary of State or the Secretary of Defense, as the case may be, considers it necessary.

"(k) Transparency.—(1) Not later than 60 days after the date of the submittal to Congress of a report under subsection (i), the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense shall jointly make copies of such report available to the public upon request, and at a reasonable cost.

"(2) Not later than 60 days after the date of the submittal to Congress under subsection (j)(2) of comments on a report under subsection (i), the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense shall jointly make copies of such comments available to the public upon request, and at a reasonable cost.

"(l) Waiver.—(1) The President may waive the requirement under paragraph (1) or (3) of subsection (i) for the inclusion in a report under such paragraph of any element otherwise provided for under such paragraph if the President determines that the waiver is justified for national security reasons.

"(2) The President shall publish a notice of each waiver made under this subsection in the Federal Register no later than the date on which the reports required under paragraph (1) or (3) of subsection (i) are submitted to Congress. The reports required under paragraph (1) or (3) of subsection (i) shall specify whether waivers under this subsection were made and with respect to which elements.

"(m) Definitions.—In this section—

"(1) the term 'appropriate committees of Congress' means—

"(A) the Committees on Appropriations, Armed Services, and Foreign Relations of the Senate; and

"(B) the Committees on Appropriations, Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, and Oversight and Government Reform [now Committee on Oversight and Accountability] of the House of Representatives; and

"(2) the term 'amounts appropriated or otherwise made available for the reconstruction of Iraq' means amounts appropriated or otherwise made available for any fiscal year—

"(A) to the Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Fund, the Iraq Security Forces Fund, and the Commanders' Emergency Response Program authorized under section 1202 of the National Defense Authorization for Fiscal Year 2006 (Public Law 109–163; 119 Stat. 3455–3456); or

"(B) for assistance for the reconstruction of Iraq under—

"(i) the Economic Support Fund authorized under chapter 4 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2346 et seq.);

"(ii) the International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement account authorized under section 481 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2291); or

"(iii) any other provision of law.

"(n) Funding.—(1) Of the amounts appropriated for fiscal year 2004 for the Operating Expenses of the Coalition Provisional Authority in title II of this Act [117 Stat. 1226], $75,000,000 shall be available to carry out this section.

"(2) The amount available under paragraph (1) shall remain available until expended.

"(o) Termination.—(1) The Office of the Inspector General shall terminate 180 days after the date on which amounts appropriated or otherwise made available for the reconstruction of Iraq that are unexpended are less than $250,000,000.

"(2) The Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction shall, prior to the termination of the Office of the Special Inspector General under paragraph (1), prepare a final forensic audit report on all amounts appropriated or otherwise made available for the reconstruction of Iraq."

Amtrak Not Federal Entity; Federal Subsidy

Pub. L. 105–134, title IV, §409(b), (c), Dec. 2, 1997, 111 Stat. 2587, as amended by Pub. L. 117–286, §4(b)(18), Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4345, provided that:

"(b) Amtrak Not Federal Entity.—Amtrak shall not be considered a Federal entity for purposes of chapter 4 of title 5, United States Code. The preceding sentence shall apply for any fiscal year for which Amtrak receives no Federal subsidy.

"(c) Federal Subsidy.—

"(1) Assessment.—In any fiscal year for which Amtrak requests Federal assistance, the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation shall review Amtrak's operations and conduct an assessment similar to the assessment required by section 202(a) [Pub. L. 105–134, 49 U.S.C. 24101 note]. The Inspector General shall report the results of the review and assessment to—

"(A) the President of Amtrak;

"(B) the Secretary of Transportation;

"(C) the United States Senate Committee on Appropriations;

"(D) the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation;

"(E) the United States House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations; and

"(F) the United States House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

"(2) Report.—The report shall be submitted, to the extent practicable, before any such committee reports legislation authorizing or appropriating funds for Amtrak for capital acquisition, development, or operating expenses.

"(3) Special effective date.—This subsection takes effect 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 2, 1997]."
5 U.S.C. § 2303 (2024) — Title 5: GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES / Chapter 23 / Section 2303: Prohibited personnel practices in the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Prohibited personnel practices in the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Status: in_force

(a) Any employee of the Federal Bureau of Investigation who has authority to take, direct others to take, recommend, or approve any personnel action, shall not, with respect to such authority, take or fail to take a personnel action with respect to an employee in, or applicant for, a position in the Bureau as a reprisal for a disclosure of information—

(1) made—

(A) in the case of an employee, to a supervisor in the direct chain of command of the employee, up to and including the head of the employing agency;

(B) to the Inspector General;

(C) to the Office of Professional Responsibility of the Department of Justice;

(D) to the Office of Professional Responsibility of the Federal Bureau of Investigation;

(E) to the Inspection Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation;

(F) as described in section 7211;

(G) to the Office of Special Counsel; or

(H) to an employee designated by any officer, employee, office, or division described in subparagraphs (A) through (G) for the purpose of receiving such disclosures; and

(2) which the employee or applicant reasonably believes evidences—

(A) any violation of any law, rule, or regulation; or

(B) gross mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety.

For the purpose of this subsection, "personnel action" means any action described in clauses (i) through (x) of section 2302(a)(2)(A) of this title with respect to an employee in, or applicant for, a position in the Bureau (other than a position of a confidential, policy-determining, policymaking, or policy-advocating character).

(b) The Attorney General shall prescribe regulations to ensure that such a personnel action shall not be taken against an employee of the Bureau as a reprisal for any disclosure of information described in subsection (a) of this section.

(c) The President shall provide for the enforcement of this section in a manner consistent with applicable provisions of sections 1214 and 1221 of this title.

(d)(1) An employee of the Federal Bureau of Investigation who makes an allegation of a reprisal under regulations promulgated under this section may appeal a final determination or corrective action order by the Bureau under those regulations to the Merit Systems Protection Board pursuant to section 1221.

(2) If no final determination or corrective action order has been made or issued for an allegation described in paragraph (1) before the expiration of the 180-day period beginning on the date on which the allegation is received by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the employee described in that paragraph may seek corrective action directly from the Merit Systems Protection Board pursuant to section 1221.

(Added Pub. L. 95–454, title I, §101(a), Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1117; amended Pub. L. 101–12, §9(a)(1), Apr. 10, 1989, 103 Stat. 34; Pub. L. 114–302, §2, Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1516; Pub. L. 117–263, div. E, title LIII, §5304(a), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3250.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2022—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 117–263 added subsec. (d).

2016—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 114–302 substituted "an employee in, or applicant for, a position in the Bureau as a reprisal for a disclosure of information—" for "any employee of the Bureau as a reprisal for a disclosure of information by the employee to the Attorney General (or an employee designated by the Attorney General for such purpose) which the employee or applicant reasonably believes evidences—" in introductory provisions, added pars. (1) and (2), and struck out former pars. (1) and (2) which read as follows:

"(1) a violation of any law, rule, or regulation, or

"(2) mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety".

1989—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 101–12 substituted "applicable provisions of sections 1214 and 1221" for "the provisions of section 1206".

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1989 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 101–12 effective 90 days following Apr. 10, 1989, see section 11 of Pub. L. 101–12, set out as a note under section 1201 of this title.

Whistleblower Protections for Federal Bureau of Investigation Contractors

Pub. L. 115–118, title I, §110(b), Jan. 19, 2018, 132 Stat. 16, provided that:

"(1) In general.—Any employee of a contractor, subcontractor, grantee, subgrantee, or personal services contractor, of the Federal Bureau of Investigation who has authority to take, direct others to take, recommend, or approve any personnel action, shall not, with respect to such authority, take or fail to take a personnel action with respect to a contractor employee as a reprisal for a disclosure of information—

"(A) made—

"(i) to a supervisor in the direct chain of command of the contractor employee;

"(ii) to the Inspector General;

"(iii) to the Office of Professional Responsibility of the Department of Justice;

"(iv) to the Office of Professional Responsibility of the Federal Bureau of Investigation;

"(v) to the Inspection Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation;

"(vi) to the Office of Special Counsel; or

"(vii) to an employee designated by any officer, employee, office, or division described in clauses (i) through (vii) for the purpose of receiving such disclosures; and

"(B) which the contractor employee reasonably believes evidences—

"(i) any violation of any law, rule, or regulation (including with respect to evidence of another employee or contractor employee accessing or sharing classified information without authorization); or

"(ii) gross mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety.

"(2) Actions by request.—A personnel action under paragraph (1) is prohibited even if the action is undertaken at the request of an official of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, unless the request takes the form of a nondiscretionary directive and is within the authority of the official making the request.

"(3) Regulations.—The Attorney General shall prescribe regulations to ensure that a personnel action described in paragraph (1) shall not be taken against a contractor employee of the Federal Bureau of Investigation as a reprisal for any disclosure of information described in subparagraph (A) of such paragraph.

"(4) Enforcement.—The President shall provide for the enforcement of this subsection.

"(5) Definitions.—In this subsection:

"(A) The term 'contractor employee' means an employee of a contractor, subcontractor, grantee, subgrantee, or personal services contractor, of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

"(B) The term 'personnel action' means any action described in clauses (i) through (x) of section 2302(a)(2)(A) of title 5, United States Code, with respect to a contractor employee."

Executive Documents

Delegation of Responsibilities Concerning FBI Employees Under the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978

Memorandum of President of the United States, Apr. 14, 1997, 62 F.R. 23123, provided:

Memorandum for the Attorney General

By the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, including section 301 of title 3, United States Code, I hereby delegate to the Attorney General the functions concerning employees of the Federal Bureau of Investigation vested in the President by section 101(a) of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 (Public Law 95–454), as amended by the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 (Public Law 101–12), and codified at section 2303(c) of title 5, United States Code, and direct the Attorney General to establish appropriate processes within the Department of Justice to carry out these functions. Not later than March 1 of each year, the Attorney General shall provide a report to the President stating the number of allegations of reprisal received during the preceding calendar year, the disposition of each allegation resolved during the preceding calendar year, and the number of unresolved allegations pending as of the end of the calendar year.

All of the functions vested in the President by section 2303(c) of title 5, United States Code, and delegated to the Attorney General, may be redelegated, as appropriate, provided that such functions may not be redelegated to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

William J. Clinton.
5 U.S.C. § 3501 (2024) — Title 5: GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES / Chapter 35 / Subchapter I / Section 3501: Definitions; application
Definitions; application
Status: in_force

(a) For the purpose of this subchapter, except section 3504—

(1) "active service" has the meaning given it by section 101 of title 37;

(2) "a retired member of a uniformed service" means a member or former member of a uniformed service who is entitled, under statute, to retired, retirement, or retainer pay on account of his service as such a member; and

(3) a preference eligible employee who is a retired member of a uniformed service is considered a preference eligible only if—

(A) his retirement was based on disability—

(i) resulting from injury or disease received in line of duty as a direct result of armed conflict; or

(ii) caused by an instrumentality of war and incurred in the line of duty during a period of war as defined by sections 101 and 1101 of title 38;

(B) his service does not include twenty or more years of full-time active service, regardless of when performed but not including periods of active duty for training; or

(C) on November 30, 1964, he was employed in a position to which this subchapter applies and thereafter he continued to be so employed without a break in service of more than 30 days.

(b) Except as otherwise provided by this subsection and section 3504 of this title, this subchapter applies to each employee in or under an Executive agency. This subchapter does not apply to an employee whose appointment is required by Congress to be confirmed by, or made with the advice and consent of, the Senate or to a member of the Senior Executive Service or the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration Senior Executive Service.

(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 428; Pub. L. 94–183, §2(8), Dec. 31, 1975, 89 Stat. 1057; Pub. L. 95–454, title IV, §404(a), Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1165; Pub. L. 100–325, §2(e), May 30, 1988, 102 Stat. 581; Pub. L. 102–83, §5(c)(2), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 406.)

Historical and Revision Notes

DerivationU.S. CodeRevised Statutes and 
Statutes at Large

(a)(1), (2) 
5 U.S.C. 3101 (as applicable to 5 U.S.C. 861). 
Aug. 19, 1964, Pub. L. 88–448, §101 (as applicable to §202), 78 Stat. 484.

(a)(3) 
5 U.S.C. 861(b). 
June 27, 1944, ch. 287, §12(b); added Aug. 19, 1964, Pub. L. 88–448, §202(4) ("(b)"), 78 Stat. 486.

In subsection (a), the definitions of "uniformed services" and "armed forces" are omitted as unnecessary in view of the definitions in section 2101. The definition of "civilian office" is omitted as unnecessary as subsection (b) of this section states the application of this subchapter.

In subsection (a)(3), the words "Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act" are omitted as unnecessary. The words "preference eligible employee" are coextensive with and substituted for "employee * * * included under section 2 of this Act" in view of the definition of preference eligible in section 2108. In paragraph (3)(C), the words "on November 30, 1964, he was employed in a position to which this subchapter applies and thereafter he continued to be so employed" are substituted for "immediately prior to the effective date of this subsection, he was employed in a civilian office to which this Act applies and, on and after such date, he continues to be employed in any such office".

Subsection (b) is supplied on authority of sections 2, 12, and 20 of the Act of June 27, 1944, ch. 287, 58 Stat. 387, 391, which are carried into this title.

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

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1991—Subsec. (a)(3)(A)(ii). Pub. L. 102–83 substituted reference to section 1101 of title 38 for reference to section 301 of title 38.

1988—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 100–325 inserted reference to Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration Senior Executive Service.

1978—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 95–454 inserted reference to a member of Senior Executive Service.

1975—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94–183 struck out ", except an employee whose appointment is made under section 3311 of title 39" after "or made with the advice and consent of, the Senate".

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1978 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 95–454 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 an Effective Date note under section 3131 of this title.
5 U.S.C. § 3133 (2024) — Title 5: GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES / Chapter 31 / Subchapter II / Section 3133: Authorization of positions; authority for appointment
Authorization of positions; authority for appointment
Status: in_force

(a) During each even-numbered calendar year, each agency shall—

(1) examine its needs for Senior Executive Service positions for each of the 2 fiscal years beginning after such calendar year; and

(2) submit to the Office of Personnel Management a written request for a specific number of Senior Executive Service positions for each of such fiscal years.

(b) Each agency request submitted under subsection (a) of this section shall—

(1) be based on the anticipated type and extent of program activities and budget requests of the agency for each of the 2 fiscal years involved, and such other factors as may be prescribed from time to time by the Office; and

(2) identify, by position title, positions which are proposed to be designated as or removed from designation as career reserved positions, and set forth justifications for such proposed actions.

(c) The Office of Personnel Management, in consultation with the Office of Management and Budget, shall review the request of each agency and shall authorize, for each of the 2 fiscal years covered by requests required under subsection (a) of this section, a specific number of Senior Executive Service positions for each agency. Beginning in 2023, the number of such positions authorized under the preceding sentence for the Department of Defense may not exceed the limitation provided in section 1109 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017.

(d)(1) The Office of Personnel Management may, on a written request of an agency or on its own initiative, make an adjustment in the number of positions authorized for any agency. Each agency request under this paragraph shall be submitted in such form, and shall be based on such factors, as the Office shall prescribe.

(2) The total number of positions in the Senior Executive Service may not at any time during any fiscal year exceed 105 percent of the total number of positions authorized under subsection (c) of this section for such fiscal year.

(e)(1) Not later than July 1, 1979, and from time to time thereafter as the Director of the Office of Personnel Management finds appropriate, the Director shall establish, by rule issued in accordance with section 1103(b) of this title, the number of positions out of the total number of positions in the Senior Executive Service, as authorized by this section or section 413 of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, which are to be career reserved positions. Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the number of positions required by this subsection to be career reserved positions shall not be less than the number of the positions then in the Senior Executive Service which, before the date of such Act, were authorized to be filled only through competitive civil service examination.

(2) The Director may, by rule, designate a number of career reserved positions which is less than the number required by paragraph (1) of this subsection only if the Director determines such lesser number necessary in order to designate as general positions one or more positions (other than positions described in section 3132(b)(3) of this title) which—

(A) involve policymaking responsibilities which require the advocacy or management of programs of the President and support of controversial aspects of such programs;

(B) involve significant participation in the major political policies of the President; or

(C) require the senior executives in the positions to serve as personal assistants of, or advisers to, Presidential appointees.

The Director shall provide a full explanation for his determination in each case.

(Added Pub. L. 95–454, title IV, §402(a), Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1158; amended Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title XI, §1109(c), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2449.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 1109 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017, referred to in subsec. (c), is section 1109 of Pub. L. 114–328, set out as a note below.

Section 413 of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, referred to in subsec. (e)(1), is section 413 of Pub. L. 95–454, set out as a note below.

The date of such Act, referred to in subsec. (e)(1), probably means Oct. 13, 1978, the date of the enactment of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978.

Amendments

2016—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 114–328 inserted at end "Beginning in 2023, the number of such positions authorized under the preceding sentence for the Department of Defense may not exceed the limitation provided in section 1109 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017."

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.

Limitation on Number of DOD SES Positions

Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title XI, §1109, Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2449, as amended by Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title XI, §1115, Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 433, provided that:

"(a) Limitation on Number of DOD SES Positions.—

"(1) In general.—Not later than December 31, 2022, the total number of Senior Executive Service positions authorized under section 3133 of title 5, United States Code, for the Department of Defense may not exceed 1,260.

"(2) Highly qualified experts.—Of the total number of positions authorized under paragraph (1), not more than 200 of such positions may be occupied by an individual appointed under the authority provided in section 9903 of such title.

"(3) Exception.—The limitation under this subsection shall not apply to positions described in this subsection that are fully funded through amounts appropriated to an agency other than the Department of Defense.

"(b) Plan to Achieve Required Limitation.—

"(1) In general.—The Secretary of Defense shall develop a plan to achieve the limitation required by subsection (a) that includes—

"(A) the distribution of Senior Executive Service positions across the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Staff, the Military Departments, the Defense Agencies and Field Activities, the unified and specified combatant commands, and other key elements of the Department of Defense;

"(B) the by-year reductions to Senior Executive Service positions consistent with the distribution required under subparagraph (A); and

"(C) recommendations for any legislative action that may be necessary for personnel management and shaping authorities to achieve the required limitation.

"(2) Submission of plan.—Not less than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 23, 2016], the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report setting forth the plan developed under paragraph (1).

"(3) Progress reports.—The Secretary of Defense shall provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives semi-annual progress report briefings describing and assessing the progress of the Secretary in implementing the plan developed under paragraph (1).

"(c) Conforming Amendment.—[Amended section 3133(c) of this title.]

"(d) Definition of Senior Executive Service Position.—In this section, the term 'Senior Executive Service position' has the meaning given such term in section 3132(a)(2) of title 5, United States Code."

Conversion to Senior Executive Service

Pub. L. 95–454, title IV, §413, Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1175, provided that:

"(a) For the purpose of this section, 'agency', 'Senior Executive Service position', 'career appointee', 'career reserved position', 'limited term appointee', 'noncareer appointee', and 'general position' have the meanings set forth in section 3132(a) of title 5, United States Code (as added by this title) and 'Senior Executive Service' has the meaning set forth in section 2101a of such title 5 (as added by this title).

"(b)(1) Under the guidance of the Office of Personnel Management, each agency shall—

"(A) designate those positions which it considers should be Senior Executive Service positions and designate which of those positions it considers should be career reserved positions; and

"(B) submit to the Office a written request for—

"(i) a specific number of Senior Executive Service positions; and

"(ii) authority to employ a specific number of noncareer appointees.

"(2) The Office of Personnel Management shall review the designations and requests of each agency under paragraph (1) of this subsection, and shall establish interim authorizations in accordance with sections 3133 and 3134 of title 5, United States Code (as added by this Act), and shall publish the titles of the authorized positions in the Federal Register.

"(c)(1) Each employee serving in a position at the time it is designated as a Senior Executive Service position under subsection (b) of this section shall elect to—

"(A) decline conversion and be appointed to a position under such employee's current type of appointment and pay system, retaining the grade, seniority, and other rights and benefits associated with such type of appointment and pay system; or

"(B) accept conversion and be appointed to a Senior Executive Service position in accordance with the provisions of subsections (d), (e), (f), (g), and (h) of this section.

The appointment of an employee in an agency because of an election under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph shall not result in the separation or reduction in grade of any other employee in such agency.

"(2) Any employee in a position which has been designated a Senior Executive Service position under this section shall be notified in writing of such designation, the election required under paragraph (1) of this subsection, and the provisions of subsections (d), (e), (f), (g), and (h) of this section. The employee shall be given 90 days from the date of such notification to make the election under paragraph (1) of this subsection.

"(d) Each employee who has elected to accept conversion to a Senior Executive Service position under subsection (c)(1)(B) of this section and who is serving under—

"(1) a career or career-conditional appointment; or

"(2) a similar type of appointment in an excepted service position, as determined by the Office;

in a position which is designated as a Senior Executive Service position shall be appointed as a career appointee to such Senior Executive Service position without regard to section 3393(b)–(e) of title 5, United States Code (as added by this title).

"(e) Each employee who has elected conversion to a Senior Executive Service position under subsection (c)(1)(B) of this section and who is serving under an excepted appointment in a position which is not designated a career reserved position in the Senior Executive Service, but is—

"(1) a position in Schedule C of subpart C of part 213 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations;

"(2) a position filled by noncareer executive assignment under subpart F of part 305 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations; or

"(3) a position in the Executive Schedule under subchapter II of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code [section 5311 et seq. of this title], other than a career Executive Schedule position;

shall be appointed as a noncareer appointee to a Senior Executive Service position.

"(f) Each employee who has elected conversion to a Senior Executive Service position under subsection (c)(1)(B) of this section, who is serving in a position described in paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of subsection (e) of this section, and whose position is designated as a career reserved position under subsection (b) of this section shall be appointed as a noncareer appointee to an appropriate general position in the Senior Executive Service or shall be separated.

"(g) Each employee who has elected conversion to a Senior Executive Service position under subsection (c)(1)(B) of this section, who is serving in a position described in paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of subsection (e) of this section, and whose position is designated as a Senior Executive Service position and who has reinstatement eligibility to a position in the competitive service, may, on request to the Office, be appointed as a career appointee to a Senior Executive Service position. The name of, and basis for reinstatement eligibility for, each employee appointed as a career appointee under this subsection shall be published in the Federal Register.

"(h) Each employee who has elected conversion to a Senior Executive Service position under subsection (c)(1)(B) of this section and who is serving under a limited executive assignment under subpart F of part 305 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, shall—

"(1) be appointed as a limited term appointee to a Senior Executive Service position if the position then held by such employee will terminate within 3 years of the date of such appointment;

"(2) be appointed as a noncareer appointee to a Senior Executive Service position if the position then held by such employee is designated as a general position; or

"(3) be appointed as a noncareer appointee to a general position if the position then held by such employee is designated as a career reserved position.

"(i) The rate of basic pay for any employee appointed to a Senior Executive Service position under this section shall be greater than or equal to the rate of basic pay payable for the position held by such employee at the time of such appointment.

"(j) Any employee who is aggrieved by any action by any agency under this section is entitled to appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board under section 7701 of title 5, United States Code (as added by this title). An agency shall take any corrective action which the Board orders in its decision on an appeal under this subsection.

"(k) The Office shall prescribe regulations to carry out the purpose of this section."

[Pub. L. 95–454, title IV, §415(a)(2), Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1179, provided that section 413 [set out above] is effective Oct. 13, 1978.]
5 U.S.C. § 3349c (2024) — Title 5: GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES / Chapter 33 / Subchapter III / Section 3349c: Exclusion of certain officers
Exclusion of certain officers
Status: in_force

Sections 3345 through 3349b shall not apply to—

(1) any member who is appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate to any board, commission, or similar entity that—

(A) is composed of multiple members; and

(B) governs an independent establishment or Government corporation;

(2) any commissioner of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission;

(3) any member of the Surface Transportation Board; or

(4) any judge appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to a court constituted under article I of the United States Constitution.

(Added Pub. L. 105–277, div. C, title I, §151(b), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–615.)

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective 30 days after Oct. 21, 1998, and applicable to any office that becomes vacant after such effective date, with certain exceptions, see section 151(d) of Pub. L. 105–277, set out as a note under section 3345 of this title.
5 U.S.C. § 3171 (2024) — Title 5: GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES / Chapter 31 / Subchapter V / Section 3171: Presidential Innovation Fellows Program
Presidential Innovation Fellows Program
Status: in_force

(a) Policy.—It is in the national interest for the Government to attract the brightest minds skilled in technology or innovative practices to serve in the Government to work on some of the Nation's biggest and most pressing challenges. This subchapter establishes a program to encourage successful entrepreneurs, executives, and innovators to join the Government and work in close cooperation with Government leaders, to create meaningful solutions that can help save lives and taxpayer money, fuel job creation, and significantly improve how the Government serves the American people.

(b) Establishment.—The Administrator of General Services shall continue the Presidential Innovation Fellows Program (hereinafter referred to as the "Program") to enable exceptional individuals with proven track records to serve time-limited appointments in executive agencies to address some of the Nation's most significant challenges and improve existing Government efforts that would particularly benefit from expertise using innovative techniques and technology.

(c) Administration.—The Program shall be administered by a Director, appointed by the Administrator under authorities of the General Services Administration. The Administrator shall provide necessary staff, resources and administrative support for the Program.

(d) Appointment of Fellows.—The Director shall appoint fellows pursuant to the Program and, in cooperation with executive agencies, shall facilitate placement of fellows to participate in projects that have the potential for significant positive effects and are consistent with the President's goals.

(e) Application Process.—

(1) In general.—The Director shall prescribe the process for applications and nominations of individuals to the Program.

(2) Program standards.—Following publication of these processes, the Director may accept for consideration applications from individuals. The Director shall establish, administer, review, and revise, if appropriate, a Governmentwide cap on the number of fellows. The Director shall establish and publish salary ranges, benefits, and standards for the Program.

(f) Selection, Appointment, and Assignment of Fellows.—

(1) Procedures.—The Director shall prescribe appropriate procedures for the selection, appointment, and assignment of fellows.

(2) Consultation.—Prior to the selection of fellows, the Director shall consult with the heads of executive agencies regarding potential projects and how best to meet those needs. Following such consultation, the Director shall select and appoint individuals to serve as fellows.

(3) Time limitation.—Fellows selected for the Program shall serve under short-term, time-limited appointments. Such fellows shall be appointed for no less than 6 months and no longer than 2 years in the Program. The Director shall facilitate the process of placing fellows at requesting executive agencies.

(g) Responsibilities of Agencies.—Each executive agency shall work with the Director and the Presidential Innovation Fellows Program advisory board established under section 3172 to attempt to maximize the Program's benefits to the agency and the Government, including by identifying initiatives that have a meaningful effect on the people served and that benefit from involvement by one or more fellows. Such agencies shall ensure that each fellow works closely with responsible senior officials for the duration of the assignment.

(Added Pub. L. 115–1, §2(a), Jan. 20, 2017, 131 Stat. 3.)

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Transition

Pub. L. 115–1, §2(c), Jan. 20, 2017, 131 Stat. 5, provided that: "The Presidential Innovation Fellows Program established pursuant to Executive Order No. 13704 (5 U.S.C. 3301 note [now 5 U.S.C. 3171 note]) as in existence on the day before the date of enactment of this Act [Jan. 20, 2017] shall be considered the Presidential Innovation Fellows Program described in the amendments made by this Act [enacting this section and section 3172 of this title]."

Executive Documents

Ex. Ord. No. 13704. Presidential Innovation Fellows Program

Ex. Ord. No. 13704, Aug. 17, 2015, 80 F.R. 50751, provided:

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Policy. It is in the national interest for the Federal Government to attract the brightest minds skilled in technology or innovative practices to serve in the Federal Government to work on some of the Nation's biggest and most pressing challenges. This order establishes a program to encourage successful entrepreneurs, executives, and innovators to join the Federal Government and work in close cooperation with Federal Government leaders, to create meaningful solutions that can help save lives and taxpayer money, fuel job creation, and significantly improve how the Federal Government serves the American people.

Sec. 2. Establishment and Administration. (a) The Administrator of General Services (Administrator) shall establish the Presidential Innovation Fellows Program (Program) to enable exceptional individuals with proven track records to serve time-limited appointments in executive branch departments and agencies (agencies) to address some of the Nation's most significant challenges and improve existing Government efforts that would particularly benefit from expertise using innovative techniques and technology. Individuals selected for the Program shall be known as Presidential Innovation Fellows (Fellows).

(b) The Program shall be administered by a Director, appointed by the Administrator under authorities of the General Services Administration (GSA). GSA shall provide necessary staff, resources and administrative support for the Program to the extent permitted by law and within existing appropriations.

(c) GSA shall appoint the Fellows and, in cooperation with agencies, shall facilitate placement of the Fellows to participate in projects that have the potential for significant positive effects and are consistent with the President's goals.

Sec. 3. Advisory Board. (a) The Administrator shall establish an Advisory Board to advise the Director by recommending such priorities and standards as may be beneficial to fulfill the mission of the Program and assist in identifying potential projects and placements for Fellows. The Advisory Board will not participate in the Fellows' selection process.

(b) The Administrator will designate a representative to serve as the Chair of the Advisory Board. In addition to the Chair, the membership of the Advisory Board shall include the Deputy Director for Management of the Office of Management and Budget, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, the Office of Management and Budget's Administrator of the Office of Electronic Government, and the Assistant to the President and Chief Technology Officer, or their designees and such other persons as may be designated by the Administrator. Consistent with law, the Advisory Board may consult with industry, academia, or non-profits to ensure the Program is continually identifying opportunities to apply advanced skillsets and innovative practices in effective ways to address the Nation's most significant challenges.

Sec. 4. Application Process. (a) The Director, in accordance with applicable law, shall prescribe the process for applications and nominations of individuals to the Program.

(b) Following publication of these processes, the Director may accept for consideration applications from individuals. The Director shall establish, administer, review, and revise, if appropriate, a Government-wide cap on the number of Fellows.

The Director shall establish and publish salary ranges, benefits, and standards for the Program.

Sec. 5. Selection, Appointment, and Assignment of Fellows. (a) The Director, in accordance with applicable law, shall prescribe appropriate procedures for the selection, appointment, and assignment of Fellows.

(b) Prior to the selection of Fellows, the Director will consult with agencies and executive branch departments, regarding potential projects and how best to meet those needs. Following such consultation, the Director shall select and appoint individuals to serve as Fellows.

(c) The Fellows shall serve under short-term, time-limited appointments. As a general matter, they shall be appointed for no less than 6 months and no longer than 2 years in the Program. The Director shall facilitate the process of placing Fellows at requesting agencies and executive branch departments.

Sec. 6. Responsibilities of Agencies. Each executive branch department or agency, as defined in section 105 of title 5, United States Code, is encouraged to work with the Director and Advisory Board to attempt to maximize the Program's benefits to the department or agency and the Federal Government, including by identifying initiatives that will have a meaningful effect on the people served and that will benefit from involvement by one or more Fellows. Departments and agencies also are encouraged to ensure that each Fellow will work closely with responsible senior officials for the duration of the assignment.

Sec. 7. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to a department or agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

Barack Obama.
5 U.S.C. § 8314 (2024) — Title 5: GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES / Chapter 83 / Subchapter II / Section 8314: Refusal to testify
Refusal to testify
Status: in_force

(a) An individual, or his survivor or beneficiary, may not be paid annuity or retired pay on the basis of the service of the individual which is creditable toward the annuity or retired pay, subject to the exceptions in section 8311(2) and (3) of this title, if the individual, before, on, or after September 1, 1954, refused or refuses, or knowingly and willfully failed or fails, to appear, testify, or produce a book, paper, record, or other document, relating to his service as an employee, before a Federal grand jury, court of the United States, court-martial, or congressional committee, in a proceeding concerning—

(1) his past or present relationship with a foreign government; or

(2) a matter involving or relating to an interference with or endangerment of, or involving or relating to a plan or attempt to interfere with or endanger, the national security or defense of the United States.

(b) The prohibition on payment of annuity or retired pay under subsection (a) of this section applies to the period after the date of the failure or refusal of the individual, or after September 1, 1954, whichever is later.

(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 561.)

Historical and Revision Notes

DerivationU.S. CodeRevised Statutes and 
Statutes at Large

 
5 U.S.C. 2283(a). 
Sept. 26, 1961, Pub. L. 87–299, §1 "Sec. 2(a)", 75 Stat. 642.

Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
5 U.S.C. § 3322 (2024) — Title 5: GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES / Chapter 33 / Subchapter I / Section 3322: Voluntary separation before resolution of personnel investigation
Voluntary separation before resolution of personnel investigation
Status: in_force

(a) With respect to any employee occupying a position in the competitive service or the excepted service who is the subject of a personnel investigation and resigns from Government employment prior to the resolution of such investigation, the head of the agency from which such employee so resigns shall, if an adverse finding was made with respect to such employee pursuant to such investigation, make a permanent notation in the employee's official personnel record file. The head shall make such notation not later than 40 days after the date of the resolution of such investigation.

(b) Prior to making a permanent notation in an employee's official personnel record file under subsection (a), the head of the agency shall—

(1) notify the employee in writing within 5 days of the resolution of the investigation and provide such employee a copy of the adverse finding and any supporting documentation;

(2) provide the employee with a reasonable time, but not less than 30 days, to respond in writing and to furnish affidavits and other documentary evidence to show why the adverse finding was unfounded (a summary of which shall be included in any notation made to the employee's personnel file under subsection (d)); and

(3) provide a written decision and the specific reasons therefore to the employee at the earliest practicable date.

(c) An employee is entitled to appeal the decision of the head of the agency to make a permanent notation under subsection (a) to the Merit Systems Protection Board under section 7701.

(d)(1) If an employee files an appeal with the Merit Systems Protection Board pursuant to subsection (c), the agency head shall make a notation in the employee's official personnel record file indicating that an appeal disputing the notation is pending not later than 2 weeks after the date on which such appeal was filed.

(2) If the head of the agency is the prevailing party on appeal, not later than 2 weeks after the date that the Board issues the appeal decision, the head of the agency shall remove the notation made under paragraph (1) from the employee's official personnel record file.

(3) If the employee is the prevailing party on appeal, not later than 2 weeks after the date that the Board issues the appeal decision, the head of the agency shall remove the notation made under paragraph (1) and the notation of an adverse finding made under subsection (a) from the employee's official personnel record file.

(e) In this section, the term "personnel investigation" includes—

(1) an investigation by an Inspector General; and

(2) an adverse personnel action as a result of performance, misconduct, or for such cause as will promote the efficiency of the service under chapter 43 or chapter 75.

(Added Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title XI, §1140(a), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2470.)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 3322, Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 422, related to temporary appointments after age 70 in the competitive service, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 95–256, §5(b)(1), Apr. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 191, effective Sept. 30, 1978.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title XI, §1140(b), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2471, provided that: "The amendment made by subsection (a) [enacting this section] shall apply to any employee described in section 3322 of title 5, United States Code, (as added by such subsection) who leaves the service after the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 23, 2016]."
5 U.S.C. § 3102 (2024) — Title 5: GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES / Chapter 31 / Subchapter I / Section 3102: Employment of personal assistants for handicapped employees, including blind and deaf employees
Employment of personal assistants for handicapped employees, including blind and deaf employees
Status: in_force

(a) For the purpose of this section—

(1) "agency" means—

(A) an Executive agency;

(B) the Library of Congress; and

(C) an office, agency, or other establishment in the judicial branch;

(2) "handicapped employee" means an individual employed by an agency who is blind or deaf or who otherwise qualifies as a handicapped individual within the meaning of section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794); 1 and

(3) "nonprofit organization" means an organization determined by the Secretary of the Treasury to be an organization described in section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 501(c)) which is exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code.

(b)(1) The head of each agency may employ one or more personal assistants who the head of the agency determines are necessary to enable a handicapped employee of that agency to perform the employee's official duties and who shall serve without pay from the agency, without regard to—

(A) the provisions of this title governing appointment in the competitive service;

(B) chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of this title; and

(C) section 1342 of title 31.

Such employment may include the employing of a reading assistant or assistants for a blind employee or an interpreting assistant or assistants for a deaf employee.

(2) A personal assistant, including a reading or interpreting assistant, employed under this subsection may receive pay for services performed by the assistant from the handicapped employee or a nonprofit organization, without regard to section 209 of title 18.

(c) The head of each agency may also employ or assign one or more personal assistants who the head of the agency determines are necessary to enable a handicapped employee of that agency to perform the employee's official duties. Such employment may include the employing of a reading assistant or assistants for a blind employee or an interpreting assistant or assistants for a deaf employee.

(d)(1) In the case of any handicapped employee (including a blind or deaf employee) traveling on official business, the head of the agency may authorize the payment to an individual to accompany or assist (or both) the handicapped employee for all or a portion of the travel period involved. Any payment under this subsection to such an individual may be made either directly to that individual or by advancement or reimbursement to the handicapped employee.

(2) With respect to any individual paid to accompany or assist a handicapped employee under paragraph (1) of this subsection—

(A) the amount paid to that individual shall not exceed the limit or limits which the Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe by regulation to ensure that the payment does not exceed amounts (including pay and, if appropriate, travel expenses and per diem allowances) which could be paid to an employee assigned to accompany or assist the handicapped employee; and

(B) that individual shall be considered an employee, but only for purposes of chapter 81 of this title (relating to compensation for injury) and sections 2671 through 2680 of title 28 (relating to tort claims).

(e) This section may not be held or considered to prevent or limit in any way the assignment to a handicapped employee (including a blind or deaf employee) by an agency of clerical or secretarial assistance, at the expense of the agency under statutes and regulations currently applicable at the time, if that assistance normally is provided, or authorized to be provided, in that manner under currently applicable statutes and regulations.

(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 414; Pub. L. 90–623, §1(3), Oct. 22, 1968, 82 Stat. 1312; Pub. L. 95–454, title III, §302(a), (b)(2), Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1145, 1146; Pub. L. 96–54, §2(a)(11), Aug. 14, 1979, 93 Stat. 382; Pub. L. 96–523, §1(a), Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 3039; Pub. L. 97–258, §3(a)(3), Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1063; Pub. L. 99–514, §2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095; Pub. L. 106–518, title III, §311, Nov. 13, 2000, 114 Stat. 2421; Pub. L. 106–553, §1(a)(2) [title III, §307], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2762, 2762A–86.)

Historical and Revision Notes

DerivationU.S. CodeRevised Statutes and 
Statutes at Large

 
5 U.S.C. 43a. 
Aug. 29, 1962, Pub. L. 87–614, 76 Stat. 408.

In subsection (a)(1), the word "agency" is substituted for "department". The words "Executive agency" are coextensive with and substituted for "each executive department of the Federal Government, each agency or independent establishment in the executive branch of such Government, each corporation wholly owned or controlled by such Government, and the General Accounting Office" in view of the definition of "Executive agency" in section 105.

In subsection (a)(3), the words "individual employed" are substituted for "employee" so as to include individuals employed by the government of the District of Columbia who are not employees as defined by section 2105.

In subsection (b), the word "may" is substituted for "is authorized" and the words "in his discretion" are omitted as unnecessary in view of the permissive nature of the authority. The words "in the provisions of this title governing appointment in the competitive service" are substituted for "the civil service rules". The words "section 209 of title 18" are substituted for "section 1914 of title 18" on authority of the Act of Oct. 24, 1962, Pub. L. 87–849, §2, 76 Stat. 1126.

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

Amendments

2000—Subsec. (a)(1)(C). Pub. L. 106–518 and Pub. L. 106–553 amended par. (1) identically, adding subpar. (C).

1986—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 99–514 substituted "Internal Revenue Code of 1986" for "Internal Revenue Code of 1954".

1982—Subsec. (b)(1)(C). Pub. L. 97–258 substituted "section 1342 of title 31" for "section 3679(b) of the Revised Statutes (31 U.S.C. 665(b))".

1980—Pub. L. 96–523 amended section generally and, among other changes, in section catchline substituted "personal assistants for handicapped employees, including blind and" for "reading assistants for blind employees and interpreting assistants for", in subsec. (a) substituted applicability to handicapped employees for applicability to blind and deaf employees omitted applicability to the government of the District of Columbia, in subsec. (b) substituted applicability to personal assistants for applicability to reading and interpreting assistants for blind and deaf employees, respectively, redesignated former subsec. (d) as (c) and made changes in phraseology, added subsec. (d), and redesignated former subsec. (c) as (e) and made changes in phraseology.

1979—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 96–54 substituted "Mayor" for "Commissioner".

1978—Pub. L. 95–454, §302(b)(2), substituted "reading assistants for blind employees and interpreting assistants for deaf employees" for "readers for blind employees" in section catchline.

Subsec. (a)(4), (5). Pub. L. 95–454, §302(a)(1), added par. (4) and redesignated former par. (4) as (5).

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 95–454, §302(a)(2), inserted provisions respecting applicability to employment and compensation for interpreting assistant or assistants for deaf employees.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 95–454, §302(a)(3), inserted "or deaf" after "blind".

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 95–454, §302(a)(4), added subsec. (d).

1968—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 90–623 substituted "Commissioner" for "Board of Commissioners".

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1980 Amendment

Pub. L. 96–523, §3, Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 3040, provided that: "The amendments made by this Act [amending this section, section 7 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, formerly set out in the Appendix to this title, section 604 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure, and section 410 of Title 39, Postal Service] shall take effect sixty days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 12, 1980]."

Effective Date of 1979 Amendment

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 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 1968 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 90–623 intended to restate without substantive change the law in effect on Oct. 22, 1968, see section 6 of Pub. L. 90–623, set out as a note under section 5334 of this title.

1 So in original. Probably should be "(29 U.S.C. 791);".
5 U.S.C. § 8432d (2024) — Title 5: GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES / Chapter 84 / Subchapter III / Section 8432d: Qualified Roth contribution program
Qualified Roth contribution program
Status: in_force

(a) Definitions.—For purposes of this section—

(1) the term "qualified Roth contribution program" means a program described in paragraph (1) of section 402A(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 which meets the requirements of paragraph (2) of such section; and

(2) the terms "designated Roth contribution" and "elective deferral" have the meanings given such terms in section 402A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

(b) Authority To Establish.—The Executive Director shall by regulation provide for the inclusion in the Thrift Savings Plan of a qualified Roth contribution program, under such terms and conditions as the Board may prescribe.

(c) Required Provisions.—The regulations under subsection (b) shall include—

(1) provisions under which an election to make designated Roth contributions may be made—

(A) by any individual who is eligible to make contributions under section 8351, 8432(a), 8440a, 8440b, 8440c, 8440d, or 8440e; and

(B) by any individual, not described in subparagraph (A), who is otherwise eligible to make elective deferrals under the Thrift Savings Plan;

(2) any provisions which may, as a result of enactment of this section, be necessary in order to clarify the meaning of any reference to an "account" made in section 8432(f), 8433, 8434(d), 8435, 8437, or any other provision of law; and

(3) any other provisions which may be necessary to carry out this section.

(Added Pub. L. 111–31, div. B, title I, §103(a), June 22, 2009, 123 Stat. 1853.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 402A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, referred to in subsec. (a), is classified to section 402A of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code.
5 U.S.C. § 9813 (2024) — Title 5: GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES / Chapter 98 / Section 9813: Limited appointments to Senior Executive Service positions
Limited appointments to Senior Executive Service positions
Status: in_force

(a) In this section—

(1) the term "career reserved position" means a position in the Administration designated under section 3132(b) which may be filled only by—

(A) a career appointee; or

(B) a limited emergency appointee or a limited term appointee—

(i) who, immediately before entering the career reserved position, was serving under a career or career-conditional appointment outside the Senior Executive Service; or

(ii) whose limited emergency or limited term appointment is approved in advance by the Office of Personnel Management;

(2) the term "limited emergency appointee" has the meaning given under section 3132; and

(3) the term "limited term appointee" means an individual appointed to a Senior Executive Service position in the Administration to meet a bona fide temporary need, as determined by the Administrator.

(b) The number of career reserved positions which are filled by an appointee as described under subsection (a)(1)(B) may not exceed 10 percent of the total number of Senior Executive Service positions allocated to the Administration.

(c) Notwithstanding sections 3132 and 3394(b)—

(1) the Administrator may appoint an individual to any Senior Executive Service position in the Administration as a limited term appointee under this section for a period of—

(A) 4 years or less to a position the duties of which will expire at the end of such term; or

(B) 1 year or less to a position the duties of which are continuing; and

(2) in rare circumstances, the Administrator may authorize an extension of a limited appointment under—

(A) paragraph (1)(A) for a period not to exceed 2 years; and

(B) paragraph (1)(B) for a period not to exceed 1 year.

(d) A limited term appointee who has been appointed in the Administration from a career or career-conditional appointment outside the Senior Executive Service shall have reemployment rights in the agency from which appointed, or in another agency, under requirements and conditions established by the Office of Personnel Management. The Office shall have the authority to direct such placement in any agency.

(e) Notwithstanding section 3394(b) and section 3395—

(1) a limited term appointee serving under a term prescribed under this section may be reassigned to another Senior Executive Service position in the Administration, the duties of which will expire at the end of a term of 4 years or less; and

(2) a limited term appointee serving under a term prescribed under this section may be reassigned to another continuing Senior Executive Service position in the Administration, except that the appointee may not serve in 1 or more positions in the Administration under such appointment in excess of 1 year, except that in rare circumstances, the Administrator may approve an extension up to an additional 1 year.

(f) A limited term appointee may not serve more than 7 consecutive years under any combination of limited appointments.

(g) Notwithstanding section 5384, the Administrator may authorize performance awards to limited term appointees in the Administration in the same amounts and in the same manner as career appointees.

(Added Pub. L. 108–201, §3(a), Feb. 24, 2004, 118 Stat. 473.)
5 U.S.C. § 5595 (2024) — Title 5: GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES / Chapter 55 / Subchapter IX / Section 5595: Severance pay
Severance pay
Status: in_force

(a) For the purpose of this section—

(1) "agency" means—

(A) an Executive agency;

(B) the Library of Congress;

(C) the Government Publishing Office;

(D) the government of the District of Columbia;

(E) the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, the Federal Judicial Center, and the courts named by section 610 of title 28; and

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

(2) "employee" means—

(A) an individual employed in or under an agency; and

(B) an individual employed by a county committee established under section 590h(b) of title 16;

but does not include—

(i) an employee (other than a member of the Senior Executive Service or the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration Senior Executive Service, or an employee whose pay is fixed under section 5376) whose rate of basic pay is fixed at a rate provided for one of the levels of the Executive Schedule or is in excess of the maximum rate for the Executive Schedule;

(ii) an employee serving under an appointment with a definite time limitation, except one so appointed for full-time employment without a break in service of more than 3 days following service under an appointment without time limitation;

(iii) an alien employee who occupies a position outside the several States, the District of Columbia, and the areas and installations in the Republic of Panama made available to the United States pursuant to the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 and related agreements (as described in section 3(a) of the Panama Canal Act of 1979);

(iv) an employee who is subject to subchapter III of chapter 83 of this title or any other retirement statute or retirement system applicable to an employee as defined by section 2105 of this title or a member of a uniformed service and who, at the time of separation from the service, has fulfilled the requirements for immediate annuity under such a statute or system;

(v) an employee who, at the time of separation from the service, is receiving compensation under subchapter I of chapter 81 of this title, other than one receiving this compensation concurrently with pay or on account of the death of another individual;

(vi) an employee who, at the time of separation from the service, is entitled to receive benefits under section 609(b)(1) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 or any other severance pay from the Government;

(vii) an employee of the Tennessee Valley Authority;

(viii) an employee of the Office of the Architect of the Capitol, who is employed on a temporary when actually employed basis;

(ix) an employee of the Government Publishing Office, who is employed on a temporary when actually employed basis; or

(x) such other employee as may be excluded by regulations of the President or such other officer or agency as he may designate.

(b) Under regulations prescribed by the President or such officer or agency as he may designate, an employee who—

(1) has been employed currently for a continuous period of at least 12 months; and

(2) is involuntarily separated from the service, not by removal for cause on charges of misconduct, delinquency, or inefficiency;

is entitled to be paid severance pay in regular pay periods by the agency from which separated. However, the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts may prescribe regulations to effect the application and operation of this section to the agencies specified in subsection (a)(1)(E) of this section. The Architect of the Capitol may prescribe regulations to effect the application and operation of this section to the agency specified in subsection (a)(1)(F) of this section. The Director of the Government Publishing Office may prescribe regulations to effect the application and operation of this section to the agency specified in subsection (a)(1)(C) of this section.

(c) Severance pay consists of—

(1) a basic severance allowance computed on the basis of 1 week's basic pay at the rate received immediately before separation for each year of civilian service up to and including 10 years for which severance pay has not been received under this or any other authority and 2 weeks' basic pay at that rate for each year of civilian service beyond 10 years for which severance pay has not been received under this or any other authority; and

(2) an age adjustment allowance computed on the basis of 10 percent of the total basic severance allowance for each year by which the age of the recipient exceeds 40 years at the time of separation.

Total severance pay under this section may not exceed 1 year's pay at the rate received immediately before separation. For the purpose of this subsection, "basic pay" includes premium pay under section 5545(c)(1) of this title.

(d) If an employee is reemployed by the Government of the United States or the government of the District of Columbia before the end of the period covered by payments of severance pay, the payments shall be discontinued beginning with the date of reemployment and the service represented by the unexpired portion of the period shall be recredited to the employee for use in any later computations of severance pay. For the purpose of subsection (b) (1) of this section, reemployment that causes severance pay to be discontinued is deemed employment continuous with that serving as the basis for severance pay.

(e) If the employee dies before the end of the period covered by payments of severance pay, the payments of severance pay with respect to the employee shall be continued as if the employee were living and shall be paid on a pay period basis to the survivor of the employee in accordance with section 5582(b) of this title.

(f) Severance pay under this section is not a basis for payment, and may not be included in the basis for computation, of any other type of United States or District of Columbia Government benefits. A period covered by severance pay is not a period of United States or District of Columbia Government service or employment.

(g) The Secretary of Agriculture shall prescribe regulations to effect the application and operation of this section to an individual named by subsection (a)(2)(B) of this section.

(h)(1) Severance pay under this section may not be paid to—

(A) a person described in paragraph (4)(A) during any period in which the person is employed in a defense nonappropriated fund instrumentality; or

(B) a person described in paragraph (4)(B) during any period in which the person is employed in a Coast Guard nonappropriated fund instrumentality.

(2)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), payment of severance pay to a person referred to in paragraph (1) may be resumed upon any involuntary separation of the person from the position of employment in a nonappropriated fund instrumentality, not by removal for cause on charges of misconduct, delinquency, or inefficiency.

(B) Payment of severance pay may not be resumed under subparagraph (A) in the case of a person who, upon separation, is entitled to immediate payment of retired or retainer pay as a member or former member of the uniformed services or to an immediate annuity under—

(i) a retirement system for persons retiring from employment by a nonappropriated fund instrumentality;

(ii) subchapter III of chapter 83 of this title;

(iii) subchapter II of chapter 84 of this title; or

(iv) any other retirement system of the Federal Government for persons retiring from employment with the Federal Government.

(3) Upon resumption of payment of severance pay under paragraph (2)(A) in the case of a person separated as described in such paragraph, the amount of the severance pay so payable for a period shall be reduced (but not below zero) by the portion (if any) of the amount of any severance pay payable for such period to the person by the nonappropriated fund instrumentality that is attributable to credit for service taken into account under subsection (c) in the computation of the amount of the severance pay so resumed.

(4) Paragraph (1) applies to a person who, on or after January 1, 1987, moves without a break in service—

(A) from employment in the Department of Defense that is not employment in a defense nonappropriated fund instrumentality to employment in a defense nonappropriated fund instrumentality; or

(B) from employment in the Coast Guard that is not employment in a Coast Guard nonappropriated fund instrumentality to employment in a Coast Guard nonappropriated fund instrumentality.

(5) The Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall prescribe regulations to carry out this subsection.

(6) In this subsection:

(A) The term "defense nonappropriated fund instrumentality" means a nonappropriated fund instrumentality of the Department of Defense.

(B) The term "Coast Guard nonappropriated fund instrumentality" means a nonappropriated fund instrumentality of the Coast Guard.

(C) The term "nonappropriated fund instrumentality" means a nonappropriated fund instrumentality described in section 2105(c) of this title.

(i)(1) In the case of an employee of the Department of Defense who is entitled to severance pay under this section, the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of the military department concerned may, upon application by the employee, pay the total amount of the severance pay to the employee in one lump sum.

(2)(A) If an employee paid severance pay in a lump sum under this subsection is reemployed by the Government of the United States or the government of the District of Columbia at such time that, had the employee been paid severance pay in regular pay periods under subsection (b), the payments of such pay would have been discontinued under subsection (d) upon such reemployment, the employee shall repay to the Department of Defense (for the military department that formerly employed the employee, if applicable) an amount equal to the amount of severance pay to which the employee was entitled under this section that would not have been paid to the employee under subsection (d) by reason of such reemployment.

(B) The period of service represented by an amount of severance pay repaid by an employee under subparagraph (A) shall be considered service for which severance pay has not been received by the employee under this section.

(C) Amounts repaid to an agency under this paragraph shall be credited to the appropriation available for the pay of employees of the agency for the fiscal year in which received. Amounts so credited shall be merged with, and shall be available for the same purposes and the same period as, the other funds in that appropriation.

(3) If an employee fails to repay to an agency an amount required to be repaid under paragraph (2)(A), that amount is recoverable from the employee as a debt due the United States.

(4) This subsection applies with respect to severance pay payable under this section for separations taking effect on or after February 10, 1996, and before October 1, 2018.

(j)(1) In the case of an employee of the Department of Energy who is entitled to severance pay under this section as a result of the establishment of the National Nuclear Security Administration, the Secretary of Energy may, upon application by the employee, pay the total amount of the severance pay to the employee in one lump sum.

(2)(A) If an employee paid severance pay in a lump sum under this subsection is reemployed by the Government of the United States or the government of the District of Columbia at such time that, had the employee been paid severance pay in regular pay periods under subsection (b), the payments of such pay would have been discontinued under subsection (d) upon such reemployment, the employee shall repay to the Department of Energy an amount equal to the amount of severance pay to which the employee was entitled under this section that would not have been paid to the employee under subsection (d) by reason of such reemployment.

(B) The period of service represented by an amount of severance pay repaid by an employee under subparagraph (A) shall be considered service for which severance pay has not been received by the employee under this section.

(C) Amounts repaid to the Department of Energy under this paragraph shall be credited to the appropriation available for the pay of employees of the agency for the fiscal year in which received. Amounts so credited shall be merged with, and shall be available for the same purposes and the same period as, the other funds in that appropriation.

(3) If an employee fails to repay to the Department of Energy an amount required to be repaid under paragraph (2)(A), that amount is recoverable from the employee as a debt due the United States.

(Added Pub. L. 90–83, §1(34)(C), Sept. 11, 1967, 81 Stat. 201; amended Pub. L. 95–454, title IV, §408(a)(3), Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1173; Pub. L. 96–70, title I, §1231(d), Sept. 27, 1979, 93 Stat. 470; Pub. L. 96–465, title II, §2305, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2165; Pub. L. 100–325, §2(i)(2), May 30, 1988, 102 Stat. 582; Pub. L. 101–474, §5(k), Oct. 30, 1990, 104 Stat. 1100; Pub. L. 101–509, title V, §529 [title I, §101(b)(9)(J)], Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1427, 1442; Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title III, §343(a), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2721; Pub. L. 104–106, div. A, title X, §1035, Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 430; Pub. L. 105–55, title III, §310(a), Oct. 7, 1997, 111 Stat. 1199; Pub. L. 105–275, title III, §§308(a), 309(a), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2452, 2454; Pub. L. 106–31, title V, §5006, May 21, 1999, 113 Stat. 112; Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title XI, §1104(a), div. C, title XXXII, §3243, Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 777, 965; Pub. L. 107–314, div. A, title XI, §1102(a), Dec. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 2660; Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title XI, §1103, Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3448; Pub. L. 109–241, title IX, §902(a)(3), July 11, 2006, 120 Stat. 566; Pub. L. 110–417, [div. A], title XI, §1104, Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4617; Pub. L. 113–66, div. A, title XI, §1104, Dec. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 886; Pub. L. 113–235, div. H, title I, §1301(b), (d), Dec. 16, 2014, 128 Stat. 2537.)

Historical and Revision Notes

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

5595 
5 App.: 1117. 
Oct. 29, 1965, Pub. L. 89–301, §9, 79 Stat. 1118.
Nov. 2, 1966, Pub. L. 89–737, §2, 80 Stat. 1164.

In subsection (a), subsections (a) and (b) of 5 App. U.S.C. 1117 are restated as definitions.

In subsection (a)(1)(A), the term "Executive agency" is substituted for "the executive branch of the Government of the United States, including each corporation wholly owned or controlled by the United States" and "the General Accounting Office" to conform to the definition in 5 U.S.C. 105.

The definition in subsection (a)(2) continues the application of the section to only civilian officers and employees, and does not encompass members of the uniformed services as they are not "employed" in or under an agency. Throughout the section, the word "officer", in the phrase "officer or employee", is omitted as included within "employee". The last 40 words of 5 App. U.S.C. 1117(a) are codified in subsection (g).

In subsection (a)(2)(i), the words "Executive Schedule" are substituted for "Federal Executive Salary Schedule" to reflect the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 5311. The words "of the General Schedule of the Classification Act of 1949, as amended" are omitted as unnecessary.

In subsection (a)(2)(ii), the words "without a break in service of more than 3 days" are coextensive with and substituted for "without a break in service or after a separation of three days or less".

In subsection (a)(2)(iv), the words "subchapter III of chapter 83 of this title" are substituted for "the Civil Service Retirement Act, as amended" to reflect the codification of the act in title 5 U.S.C. The words "employees as defined by section 2105 of this title" are coextensive with and substituted for "Federal officers and employees".

In subsection (a)(2)(v), the words "subchapter I of chapter 81 of this title" are substituted for "the Federal Employees' Compensation Act, as amended" to reflect the codification of the act in title 5, U.S.C.

In subsection (b) the word "agency" is substituted for "department, independent establishment, corporation, or other governmental unit" to conform to the definition in subsection (a)(1). Subsection (b)(1) is substituted for 5 App. U.S.C. 1117(e).

In subsection (e), the words "section 5582(b) of this title" are substituted for "the first section of the Act of August 3, 1950 (5 U.S.C. 61f)" to reflect the codification of the section in title 5, United States Code.

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Executive Schedule, referred to in subsec. (a)(2)(i), is set out in section 5311 et seq. of this title.

Section 3(a) of the Panama Canal Act of 1979, referred to in subsec. (a)(2)(iii), is classified to section 3602(a) of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse.

Section 609(b)(1) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, referred to in subsec. (a)(2)(vi), is classified to section 4009(b)(1) of Title 22.

Amendments

2013—Subsec. (i)(4). Pub. L. 113–66 substituted "October 1, 2018" for "October 1, 2014".

2008—Subsec. (i)(4). Pub. L. 110–417 substituted "2014" for "2010".

2006—Subsec. (h)(5). Pub. L. 109–241 substituted "Secretary of Homeland Security" for "Secretary of Transportation".

Subsec. (i)(4). Pub. L. 109–163 substituted "2010" for "2006".

2002—Subsec. (i)(4). Pub. L. 107–314 substituted "2006" for "2003".

1999—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 106–31 substituted "(a)(1)(C)" for "(a)(1)(G)" in last sentence.

Subsec. (i)(4). Pub. L. 106–65, §1104(a), substituted "February 10, 1996, and before October 1, 2003" for "the date of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996 and before October 1, 1999".

Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 106–65, §3243, added subsec. (j).

1998—Subsec. (a)(1)(F). Pub. L. 105–275, §308(a)(1), struck out ", but only with respect to the United States Senate Restaurants" after "Capitol".

Subsec. (a)(2)(viii). Pub. L. 105–275, §§308(a)(2), 309(a)(1)(A), struck out "of the United States Senate Restaurants" after "an employee" and "or" after the semicolon.

Subsec. (a)(2)(ix), (x). Pub. L. 105–275, §309(a)(1)(B), added cl. (ix) and redesignated former cl. (ix) as (x).

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 105–275, §309(a)(2), inserted at end "The Public Printer may prescribe regulations to effect the application and operation of this section to the agency specified in subsection (a)(1)(G) of this section."

1997—Subsec. (a)(1)(F). Pub. L. 105–55, §310(a)(1), added subpar. (F).

Subsec. (a)(2)(viii), (ix). Pub. L. 105–55, §310(a)(2), added cl. (viii) and redesignated former cl. (viii) as (ix).

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 105–55, §310(a)(3), inserted at end "The Architect of the Capitol may prescribe regulations to effect the application and operation of this section to the agency specified in subsection (a)(1)(F) of this section."

1996—Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 104–106 added subsec. (i).

1994—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 103–337 added subsec. (h).

1990—Subsec. (a)(1)(E). Pub. L. 101–474, §5(k)(1), added subpar. (E).

Subsec. (a)(2)(i). Pub. L. 101–509 substituted "employee (other" for "employee, other", inserted "or an employee whose pay is fixed under section 5376)" before "whose rate", and substituted "the Executive Schedule" for "GS–18".

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 101–474, §5(k)(2), inserted at end "However, the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts may prescribe regulations to effect the application and operation of this section to the agencies specified in subsection (a)(1)(E) of this section."

1988—Subsec. (a)(2)(i). Pub. L. 100–325 inserted reference to Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration Senior Executive Service.

1980—Subsec. (a)(2)(vi). Pub. L. 96–465 inserted "benefits under section 609(b)(1) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 or any" after "to receive".

1979—Subsec. (a)(2)(iii). Pub. L. 96–70 substituted "areas and installations in the Republic of Panama made available to the United States pursuant to the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 and related agreements (as described in section 3(a) of the Panama Canal Act of 1979)" for "Canal Zone".

1978—Subsec. (a)(2)(i). Pub. L. 95–454 inserted reference to a member of the Senior Executive Service.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

"Government Publishing Office" substituted for "Government Printing Office" in subsec. (a)(1)(C), (2)(B)(ix) 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.

"Director of the Government Publishing Office" substituted for "Public Printer" in subsec. (b) on authority of section 1301(d) of Pub. L. 113–235, set out as a note under section 301 of Title 44, Public Printing and Documents.

Effective Date of 1999 Amendment

Amendment by section 3243 of Pub. L. 106–65 effective Mar. 1, 2000, see section 3299 of Pub. L. 106–65, set out as an Effective Date note under section 2401 of Title 50, War and National Defense.

Effective Date of 1994 Amendment

Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title III, §343(b), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2722, provided that: "Subsection (h) of section 5595 of title 5, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect to pay periods that begin on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 5, 1994]."

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 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 as an Effective Date note under section 3901 of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse.

Effective Date of 1979 Amendment

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.

Effective Date of 1978 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 95–454 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.

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.

Report

Pub. L. 107–314, div. A, title XI, §1102(b), Dec. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 2660, required the President, not later than one year after Dec. 2, 2002, to submit to Committees of Congress a report on whether the authority under section 5595(i) of this title should be made permanent or expanded to be made Governmentwide.
5 U.S.C. § 8909 (2024) — Title 5: GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES / Chapter 89 / Section 8909: Employees Health Benefits Fund
Employees Health Benefits Fund
Status: in_force

(a) There is in the Treasury of the United States an Employees Health Benefits Fund which is administered by the Office of Personnel Management. The contributions of enrollees and the Government described by section 8906 of this title shall be paid into the Fund. The Fund is available—

(1) without fiscal year limitation for all payments to approved health benefits plans; and

(2) to pay expenses for administering this chapter within the limitations that may be specified annually by Congress.

Payments from the Fund to a plan participating in a letter-of-credit arrangement under this chapter shall, in connection with any payment or reimbursement to be made by such plan for a health service or supply, be made, to the maximum extent practicable, on a checks-presented basis (as defined under regulations of the Department of the Treasury).

(b) Portions of the contributions made by enrollees and the Government shall be regularly set aside in the Fund as follows:

(1) A percentage, not to exceed 1 percent of all contributions, determined by the Office to be reasonably adequate to pay the administrative expenses made available by subsection (a) of this section.

(2) For each health benefits plan, a percentage, not to exceed 3 percent of the contributions toward the plan, determined by the Office to be reasonably adequate to provide a contingency reserve.

The Office, from time to time and in amounts it considers appropriate, may transfer unused funds for administrative expenses to the contingency reserves of the plans then under contract with the Office. When funds are so transferred, each contingency reserve shall be credited in proportion to the total amount of the subscription charges paid and accrued to the plan for the contract term immediately before the contract term in which the transfer is made. The income derived from dividends, rate adjustments, or other refunds made by a plan shall be credited to its contingency reserve. The contingency reserves may be used to defray increases in future rates, or may be applied to reduce the contributions of enrollees and the Government to, or to increase the benefits provided by, the plan from which the reserves are derived, as the Office from time to time shall determine.

(c) The Secretary of the Treasury may invest and reinvest any of the money in the Fund in interest-bearing obligations of the United States, and may sell these obligations for the purposes of the Fund. The interest on and the proceeds from the sale of these obligations become a part of the Fund.

(d) When the assets, liabilities, and membership of employee organizations sponsoring or underwriting plans approved under section 8903(3) or 8903a of this title are merged, the assets (including contingency reserves) and liabilities of the plans sponsored or underwritten by the merged organizations shall be transferred at the beginning of the contract term next following the date of the merger to the plan sponsored or underwritten by the successor organization. Each employee, annuitant, former spouse, or person having continued coverage under section 8905a of this title affected by a merger shall be transferred to the plan sponsored or underwritten by the successor organization unless he enrolls in another plan under this chapter. If the successor organization is an organization described in section 8901(8)(B) of this title, any employee, annuitant, former spouse, or person having continued coverage under section 8905a of this title so transferred may not remain enrolled in the plan after the end of the contract term in which the merger occurs unless that individual is a full member of such organization (as determined under section 8903a(d) of this title).

(e)(1) Except as provided by subsection (d) of this section, when a plan described by section 8903(3) or (4) or 8903a of this title is discontinued under this chapter, the contingency reserve of that plan shall be credited to the contingency reserves of the plans continuing under this chapter for the contract term following that in which termination occurs, each reserve to be credited in proportion to the amount of the subscription charges paid and accrued to the plan for the year of termination.

(2) Any crediting required under paragraph (1) pursuant to the discontinuation of any plan under this chapter shall be completed by the end of the second contract year beginning after such plan is so discontinued.

(3) The Office shall prescribe regulations in accordance with which this subsection shall be applied in the case of any plan which is discontinued before being credited with the full amount to which it would otherwise be entitled based on the discontinuation of any other plan.

(f)(1) No tax, fee, or other monetary payment may be imposed, directly or indirectly, on a carrier or an underwriting or plan administration subcontractor of an approved health benefits plan by any State, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or by any political subdivision or other governmental authority thereof, with respect to any payment made from the Fund.

(2) Paragraph (1) shall not be construed to exempt any carrier or underwriting or plan administration subcontractor of an approved health benefits plan from the imposition, payment, or collection of a tax, fee, or other monetary payment on the net income or profit accruing to or realized by such carrier or underwriting or plan administration subcontractor from business conducted under this chapter, if that tax, fee, or payment is applicable to a broad range of business activity.

(g) The fund described in subsection (a) is available to pay costs that the Office incurs for activities associated with implementation of the demonstration project under section 1108 of title 10.

(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 605; Pub. L. 95–454, title IX, §906(a)(2), (3), Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1224; Pub. L. 98–615, §3(6), Nov. 8, 1984, 98 Stat. 3204; Pub. L. 99–53, §2(e), (f), June 17, 1985, 99 Stat. 94; Pub. L. 99–251, title I, §101, Feb. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 14; Pub. L. 100–654, title II, §202(a), Nov. 14, 1988, 102 Stat. 3845; Pub. L. 101–508, title VII, §7002(b), (c), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–330; Pub. L. 105–261, div. A, title VII, §721(b)(4), Oct. 17, 1998, 112 Stat. 2065; Pub. L. 105–266, §6(b)(1), Oct. 19, 1998, 112 Stat. 2369.)

Historical and Revision Notes

DerivationU.S. CodeRevised Statutes and 
Statutes at Large

 
5 U.S.C. 3007. 
Sept. 28, 1959, Pub. L. 86–382, §8, 73 Stat. 714.

  
 
Mar. 17, 1964, Pub. L. 88–284, §1(12), (13), 78 Stat. 165.

 
5 U.S.C. 3008(b). 
Sept. 23, 1959, Pub. L. 86–382, §9(b), 73 Stat. 715.

In subsection (a), the words "hereby created" are omitted as executed. The words "hereinafter referred to as the 'Fund' " are omitted as unnecessary. The words "to reimburse the Employees Health Benefits Fund for sums expended by the Commission in administering the provisions of this chapter for the fiscal years 1960 and 1961" in former section 3008(b) are omitted as executed.

In subsection (d), the requirement that the assets and liabilities of plans of organizations that have been merged be transferred at the beginning of the contract term next following the date of the merger or enactment of this subsection is omitted as executed. The next beginning contract term referred to was November 1, 1964, and the transfers have been made. In the last sentence, the word "hereafter" is omitted as unnecessary.

In subsection (e), the word "is" is substituted for "is or has been" as this title is stated prospectively, and any existing rights and duties are preserved by technical section 8.

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

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1998—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 105–266 designated existing provisions as par. (1) and added pars. (2) and (3).

Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 105–261 added subsec. (g).

1990—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101–508, §7002(b), inserted at end "Payments from the Fund to a plan participating in a letter-of-credit arrangement under this chapter shall, in connection with any payment or reimbursement to be made by such plan for a health service or supply, be made, to the maximum extent practicable, on a checks-presented basis (as defined under regulations of the Department of the Treasury)."

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 101–508, §7002(c), added subsec. (f).

1988—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 100–654 substituted "former spouse, or person having continued coverage under section 8905a of this title" for "or former spouse" in two places.

1986—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 99–251 substituted "enrollees" for "employees" in last sentence.

1985—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 99–53, §2(e), substituted "section 8903(3) or 8903a" for "section 8903(3)" and inserted provision directing that if the successor organization is an organization described in section 8901(8)(B) of this title, any transferred employee, annuitant, or former spouse may not remain enrolled in the plan after the end of the contract term in which the merger occurs unless the individual is a full member of such organization (as determined under section 8903a(d) of this title).

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 99–53, §2(f), inserted "or 8903a" before "of this title".

1984—Subsecs. (a), (b). Pub. L. 98–615, §3(6)(A), substituted "enrollees" for "employees, annuitants," in provisions preceding par. (1).

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 98–615, §3(6)(B), substituted "Each employee, annuitant, or former spouse" for "Each employee or annuitant".

1978—Subsecs. (a), (b). Pub. L. 95–454 substituted "Office of Personnel Management" for "Civil Service Commission" and "Office" for "Commission" wherever appearing.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1990 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 101–508 applicable with respect to contract years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 1991, see section 7002(g) of Pub. L. 101–508, set out as a note under section 8902 of this title.

Effective Date of 1988 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 100–654 applicable with respect to any calendar year beginning, and contracts entered into or renewed for any calendar year beginning, after end of 9-month period beginning Nov. 14, 1988, and with respect to any qualifying event occurring on or after first day of first calendar year beginning after end of such 9-month period, see section 203 of Pub. L. 100–654, set out as a note under section 8902 of this title.

Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 98–615 effective May 7, 1985, with enumerated exceptions, and applicable to any individual who is married to an employee or annuitant on or after that date, see section 4(a)(2) of Pub. L. 98–615, as amended, set out as a note under section 8341 of this title.

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.

Disposal of Amounts Remaining as of October 19, 1998, in Contingency Reserve of Discontinued Plan

Pub. L. 105–266, §6(b)(2), Oct. 19, 1998, 112 Stat. 2369, provided that: "In the case of any amounts remaining as of the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 19, 1998] in the contingency reserve of a discontinued plan, such amounts shall be disposed of in accordance with section 8909(e) of title 5, United States Code, as amended by this subsection, by—

"(A) the deadline set forth in section 8909(e) of such title (as so amended); or

"(B) if later, the end of the 6-month period beginning on such date of enactment."

Amounts To Be Refunded From Carriers' Special Reserves

Pub. L. 99–272, title XV, §15202(a), Apr. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 333, provided that:

"(1) The Office of Personnel Management—

"(A) shall determine the minimum level of financial reserves necessary to be held by a carrier for each health benefits plan under chapter 89 of such title for the purpose of ensuring the stable and efficient operation of such plan; and

"(B) shall require the carrier to refund to the Employees Health Benefits Fund (described in section 8909(a) of title 5, United States Code) any such reserves in excess of such minimum level in such amounts and at such times during fiscal years 1986 and 1987 as the Office determines appropriate.

"(2) In carrying out its responsibilities under this subsection, the Office shall ensure that the aggregate amount to be refunded to the Employees Health Benefits Fund under this subsection—

"(A) during fiscal year 1986 shall be not less than $800,000,000; and

"(B) during fiscal year 1987 shall be not less than $300,000,000.

"(3) No amount in the Employees Health Benefits Fund may be transferred to the general fund of the Treasury of the United States as a result of a refund made under this subsection.

"(4)(A) Subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C), any amounts refunded to the Employees Health Benefits Fund under this subsection may be used solely for the purpose of paying the Government contribution under chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, for health benefits for annuitants, as defined by section 8901(3) of title 5, United States Code, (including the Government contribution for former employees of the United States Postal Service) enrolled in health benefits plans under such chapter.

"(B) This paragraph applies to a refund to the extent that such refund represents amounts attributable to Government contributions which were made under section 8906(b) of title 5, United States Code, (including contributions made by the United States Postal Service) as determined under regulations which the Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe.

"(C) Any part of the amount in the Employees Health Benefits Fund as a result of a refund made under this subsection may be transferred—

"(i) to the government of the District of Columbia, except that the amount of any such part so transferred shall not exceed the amount attributable to the contributions made by the government of the District of Columbia to subscription charges under this chapter (as determined by the Office of Personnel Management); and

"(ii) to the United States Postal Service, except that the amount of any such part so transferred shall not exceed the amount attributable to the contributions made by the United States Postal Service to subscription charges under this chapter (as determined by the Office).

"(5) The provisions of this subsection shall apply notwithstanding any provision of the Federal Employees Benefits Improvement Act of 1985 [probably means the Federal Employees Benefits Improvement Act of 1986, Pub. L. 99–251, see Short Title of 1986 Amendment note set out under section 8901 of this title for classification]."

Restrictions Relating to Amounts Refunded to Employees Health Benefits Fund From Carriers' Special Reserves

Pub. L. 99–251, title I, §112, Feb. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 19, provided that:

"(a) Prohibited Transfers.—(1) No amount in the Employees Health Benefits Fund may be transferred to the general fund of the Treasury of the United States or the United States Postal Service as a result of a refund described in paragraph (2).

"(2) This subsection applies with respect to any refund made by a carrier during fiscal year 1986 or 1987 to the Employees Health Benefits Fund to the extent that such refund represents amounts in excess of the minimum level of financial reserves necessary to be held by such carrier to ensure the stable and efficient operation of its health benefits plan.

"(b) Restriction Relating to Use of Certain Amounts in the Fund.—(1) Any amount which is in the Employees Health Benefits Fund, and which is described in paragraph (2), may be used solely for the purpose of paying the Government contribution under chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, for health benefits for annuitants enrolled in health benefits plans (without regard to the health benefits plan or plans from which the refunds were received).

"(2) This subsection applies with respect to any amounts—

"(A) which are referred to in subsection (a)(2); and

"(B) which are attributable to Government contributions (other than contributions by the government of the District of Columbia, which shall be returned to such government) that were made under section 8906(b) of title 5, United States Code, as determined under regulations which the Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe.

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

"(1) the term 'Employees Health Benefits Fund' refers to the fund described in section 8909(a) of title 5, United States Code;

"(2) the term 'carrier' has the meaning given such term by section 8901(7) of such title; and

"(3) the term 'health benefits plan' has the meaning given such term by section 8901(6) of such title."
5 U.S.C. § 7504 (2024) — Title 5: GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES / Chapter 75 / Subchapter I / Section 7504: Regulations
Regulations
Status: in_force

The Office of Personnel Management may prescribe regulations to carry out the purpose of this subchapter.

(Added Pub. L. 95–454, title II, §204(a), Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1135.)

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective 90 days after Oct. 13, 1978, see section 907 of Pub. L. 95–454, set out as an Effective Date of 1978 Amendment note under section 1101 of this title.
5 U.S.C. § 2101 (2024) — Title 5: GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES / Chapter 21 / Section 2101: Civil service; armed forces; uniformed services
Civil service; armed forces; uniformed services
Status: in_force

For the purpose of this title—

(1) the "civil service" consists of all appointive positions in the executive, judicial, and legislative branches of the Government of the United States, except positions in the uniformed services;

(2) "armed forces" means the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, and Coast Guard; and

(3) "uniformed services" means the armed forces, the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service, and the commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 408; Pub. L. 90–83, §1(4), Sept. 11, 1967, 81 Stat. 196; Pub. L. 96–54, §2(a)(4), Aug. 14, 1979, 93 Stat. 381; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title IX, §927(a), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3831.)

Historical and Revision Notes

1966 Act

The section is supplied to establish basis of reference to employees in this title.

1967 Act

This section amends various sections [§§2101, 4102, 4109, 5541, 8101] of title 5, United States Code, to reflect 1965 Reorganization Plan No. 2 (79 Stat. 1318), effective July 13, 1965, which consolidated the Coast and Geodetic Survey and the Weather Bureau to form a new agency in the Department of Commerce to be known as the Environmental Science Services Administration.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2021—Par. (2). Pub. L. 116–283 inserted "Space Force," after "Marine Corps".

1979—Par. (3). Pub. L. 96–54 substituted "National Oceanic and Atmospheric" for "Environmental Science Services".

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1979 Amendment

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.

Short Title of 1998 Amendment

Pub. L. 105–339, §1, Oct. 31, 1998, 112 Stat. 3182, provided that: "This Act [enacting sections 3330a to 3330c of this title, section 1316a of Title 2, The Congress, section 115 of Title 3, The President, and section 1354 of Title 31, Money and Finance, amending sections 2108, 2302, and 3304 of this title and section 4212 of Title 38, Veterans' Benefits, repealing section 1599c of Title 10, Armed Forces, enacting provisions set out as notes under section 2302 of this title and section 601 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure, and amending provisions set out as a note under section 106 of Title 49, Transportation] may be cited as the 'Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998'."

Short Title of 1994 Amendment

Pub. L. 103–226, §1, Mar. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 111, provided that: "This Act [amending sections 3381, 4101, 4103, 4105, 4107, 4108, 4113, 4118, 5597, 8351, 8433 to 8435, 8437, 8440a to 8440d of this title and section 1206 of Title 45, Railroads, repealing sections 4106 and 4114 of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 3101, 3381, 5597, 8331, and 8351 of this title, and amending provisions set out as a note under section 403–4 of Title 50, War and National Defense] may be cited as the 'Federal Workforce Restructuring Act of 1994'."

Short Title of 1990 Amendment

Pub. L. 101–508, title VII, §7202(a), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–335, provided that: "This section [amending sections 2105, 3502, 5334, 5335, 5365, 5551, 6308, 6312, 8331, 8347, 8401, 8461, and 8901 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under section 2105 of this title] may be cited as the 'Portability of Benefits for Nonappropriated Fund Employees Act of 1990'."

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.

Coordination of Title VII of Pub. L. 101–508 With Section 909 of Title 2

Pub. L. 101–508, title VII, §7301, Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–341, provided that: "For purposes of section 202 of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Reaffirmation Act of 1987 [probably means section 202 of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Reaffirmation Act of 1987, Pub. L. 100–119, which was formerly classified to section 909 of Title 2, The Congress], this title and the amendments made by this title [amending sections 552a, 2105, 3502, 5334, 5335, 5365, 5551, 6308, 6312, 8331, 8334, 8339, 8342, 8343a, 8347, 8348, 8401, 8420a, 8461, 8901, 8902, 8904, 8906, 8909, and 8910 of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and sections 552a, 2105, 8334, 8343a, 8348, 8902, 8904, and 8906 of this title, amending provisions set out as notes under sections 8343a and 8906 of this title, and repealing provisions set out as notes under sections 8343a and 8348 of this title] shall be considered an exception under subsection (b) of such section."
5 U.S.C. § 5518 (2024) — Title 5: GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES / Chapter 55 / Subchapter II / Section 5518: Deductions for State retirement systems; National Guard employees
Deductions for State retirement systems; National Guard employees
Status: in_force

When—

(1) a State statute provides for the payment of employee contributions to a State employee retirement system or to a State sponsored plan providing retirement, disability, or death benefits, by withholding sums from the pay of State employees and making returns of the sums withheld to State authorities or to the person or organization designated by State authorities to receive sums withheld for the program; and

(2) individuals employed by the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard, except employees of the National Guard Bureau, are eligible for membership in a State employee retirement system or other State sponsored plan;

the Secretary of Defense, under regulations prescribed by the President, shall enter into an agreement with the State within 120 days of a request for agreement from the proper State official. The agreement shall provide that the Department of Defense shall comply with the requirements of State statute as to the individuals named by paragraph (2) of this section who are eligible for membership in the State employee retirement system. The disbursing officials paying these individuals shall withhold and pay to the State employee retirement system or to the person or organization designated by State authorities to receive sums withheld for the program the employee contributions for these individuals. For the purpose of this section, "State" means a State or territory or possession of the United States including the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 479.)

Historical and Revision Notes

DerivationU.S. CodeRevised Statutes and 
Statutes at Large

 
5 U.S.C. 84d. 
June 15, 1956, ch. 390, 70 Stat. 283.
Sept. 13, 1961, Pub. L. 87–224, §1, 75 Stat. 496.

The words "individuals employed by" and the word "individuals" are substituted for "civilian employees of" and "employees", respectively, in view of the definition of "employee" in section 2105 which is limited to those employed by the Government of the United States. The word "civilian" is omitted as unnecessary as military personnel are not "employed". The words "disbursing officials" are substituted for "disbursing officers" as the definition of "officer" in section 2104 excludes a member of a uniformed service.

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

Executive Documents

Ex. Ord. No. 10996. Withholding of Compensation for State and State-Sponsored Employee Retirement, Disability, or Death Benefits Programs

Ex. Ord. No. 10996, Feb. 16, 1962, 27 F.R. 1521, provided:

By virtue of the authority vested in me by the act of June 15, 1956, as amended, 75 Stat. 496 (5 U.S.C. 84d) [now this section], and by section 301 of title 3 of the United States Code, and as President of the United States, it is ordered as follows:

Section 1. As used in this order, the term:

(a) "Employees" means civilian employees of the Army National Guard or Air National Guard of a State who are employed pursuant to section 709 of title 32 of the United States Code, and paid from Federal, appropriated funds.

(b) "State" means one of the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any territory of the United States.

Sec. 2. Each agreement between the Secretary of Defense and the Governor or other proper official of a State, pursuant to the provisions of the act of June 15, 1956, as amended, with respect to withholding of compensation of certain civilian employees of the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard for purposes of State or State-sponsored employee retirement, disability, or death benefits systems, shall be entered into by the Secretary of Defense within one hundred and twenty days of the receipt of a request therefor by the Secretary from the Governor or any other proper official of any State; Provided, that—

(a) the law of such State provides for the payment of employee contributions to such State or State-sponsored employee retirement, disability, or death benefits systems by withholding sums from the compensation of such State employees and making returns of such sums to officials of such State or organization designated by such officials to receive sums withheld for such programs;

(b) civilian employees of the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard, other than those employed by the National Guard Bureau, are eligible for membership in a State retirement, disability, or death benefits system; and

(c) each such agreement is consistent with the provisions of the said act of June 15, 1956, as amended, and of rules and regulations issued thereunder, and contains a clause that it shall be subject to any amendments of the said act, including amendments occurring after the effective date of such agreement.

Sec. 3. Each such agreement shall:

(a) Provide that the Secretary of the Army with respect to civilian employees of the Army National Guard, and the Secretary of the Air Force with respect to civilian employees of the Air National Guard, shall comply with the requirements of such State law in the case of employee subject to the said act of June 15, 1956, as amended, who are eligible for membership in such retirement, disability, or death benefits system for State employees;

(b) Specify when the withholding of sums from the compensation of such State employees shall commence; and

(c) Provide for procedures for the withholding, the filing of the returns, and the payment of the sums withheld from compensation to the officials of the State, or organization designated by such officials to receive sums withheld for such programs, which procedures shall conform, so far as practicable, to the usual fiscal practices of the Department of the Army and the Department of the Air Force, respectively.

Sec. 4. The Secretary of the Army with respect to civilian employees of the Army National Guard, and the Secretary of the Air Force with respect to civilian employees of the Air National Guard, shall designate, or provide for the designation of, the officers or employees whose duty it shall be to withhold sums from compensation, file required returns, and direct the payment of sums so withheld, in accordance with the terms of the agreements entered into between the Secretary of Defense and the States.

Sec. 5. Nothing in this order, or in rules or regulations issued thereunder, or in any agreement entered into pursuant thereto, shall be construed as giving consent to the application of any provision of law of any State which has the effect of imposing more burdensome requirements upon the United States than it imposes upon departments, agencies, or political subdivisions of the State concerned, with respect to employees thereof who are members of the State or State-sponsored retirement, disability, or death benefits system, or which has the effect of subjecting the United States or any of its officers or employees to any penalty or liability.

Sec. 6. I hereby delegate to the Secretary of Defense authority to prescribe such rules and regulations, not inconsistent herewith, as may be necessary to effectuate further the provisions of the said act of June 15, 1956, as amended, or of this order.

Sec. 7. Except to the extent that they may be inconsistent with this order, all determinations, authorizations, regulations, rulings, certificates, orders, directives, contracts, agreements, and other actions made, issued, or entered into with respect to any function affected by this order and not revoked, superseded, or otherwise made inapplicable before the date of this order, shall continue in full force and effect until amended, modified, or terminated by appropriate authority.

Sec. 8. This order supersedes Executive Order No. 10679 of September 20, 1956.

John F. Kennedy.