§4818 — Title 10 Armed Forces | U.S. Code

Summary

The President can require people or groups to give information, keep or hand over records, let officials inspect papers or property, and take sworn testimony. The President may use rules, subpoenas, or other means to get what is needed to enforce the listed chapters. These powers must be used only after a proper authority defines the scope and purpose and only if no adequate data exist from any federal or other responsible agency. Anyone who willfully disobeys these requirements or hides information can be fined under title 18, jailed up to one year, or both. Information the President treats as confidential won’t be released unless he finds that keeping it secret would harm national defense. The President may make rules and exceptions to carry out this authority. Definitions: “Person” means individuals, businesses, groups, or governments (penalties don’t apply to the United States or other governments). “National defense” covers military and atomic energy programs, military aid to other countries, stockpiling, space, and related activities.

Title 10, §4818

Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The President shall be entitled, by regulation, subpoena, or otherwise, to obtain such information from, require such reports and the keeping of such records by, make such inspection of the books, records, and other writings, premises or property of, and take the sworn testimony of, and administer oaths and affirmations to, any person as may be necessary or appropriate, in the President’s discretion, to the enforcement or the administration of chapters 381 through 385 and chapter 389 and the regulations issued under such chapters.

(b)The President shall issue regulations insuring that the authority of this section will be used only after the scope and purpose of the investigation, inspection, or inquiry to be made have been defined by competent authority and it is assured that no adequate and authoritative data are available from any Federal or other responsible agency.

(c)Any person who willfully performs any act prohibited or willfully fails to perform any act required by the provisions of subsection (a), or any rule, regulation, or order thereunder, shall be fined under title 18 or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

(d)Information obtained under subsection (a) which the President deems confidential or with reference to which a request for confidential treatment is made by the person furnishing such information shall not be published or disclosed unless the President determines that the withholding thereof is contrary to the interest of the national defense. Any person who willfully violates this subsection shall be fined under title 18 or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

(e)The President may make such rules, regulations, and orders as he considers necessary or appropriate to carry out the provisions of this section. Any regulation or order under this section may be established in such form and manner, may contain such classification and differentiations, and may provide for such adjustments and reasonable exceptions as in the judgment of the President are necessary or proper to effectuate the purposes of this section, or to prevent circumvention or evasion, or to facilitate enforcement of this section, or any rule, regulation, or order issued under this section.

(f)In this section:

(1)The term “person” includes an individual, corporation, partnership, association, or any other organized group of persons, or legal successor or representative of the foregoing, and includes the United States or any agency thereof, or any other government, or any of its political subdivisions, or any agency of any of the foregoing, except that no punishment provided by this section shall apply to the United States, or to any such government, political subdivision, or government agency.

(2)The term “national defense” means programs for military and atomic energy production or construction, military assistance to any foreign nation, stockpiling, space, and directly related activity.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2021—Pub. L. 116–283, § 1867(b), renumbered section 2507 of this title as this section. Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 116–283, § 1867(d)(5), as amended by Pub. L. 117–81, § 1701(b)(22)(B), substituted “of chapters 381 through 385 and chapter 389” for “of this chapter” and “under such chapters” for “under this chapter”. 2006—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 109–163 substituted “subsection (a)” for “section (a)”. 1993—Pub. L. 103–160 inserted headings in subsecs. (a) to (f).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2021 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 117–81 applicable as if included in the enactment of title XVIII of Pub. L. 116–283 as enacted, see section 1701(a)(2) of Pub. L. 117–81, set out in a note preceding section 3001 of this title and note below. Amendment by Pub. L. 116–283 effective Jan. 1, 2022, with additional provisions for delayed implementation and applicability of existing law, see section 1801(d) of Pub. L. 116–283, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title.

§4818 Data collection authority of President