Title 28Judiciary and Judicial ProcedureRelease 119-73

§2507 Calls and discovery

Title 28 › Part PART VI— - PARTICULAR PROCEEDINGS › Chapter CHAPTER 165— - UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS PROCEDURE › § 2507

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Court of Federal Claims can require any federal department, agency, or party to provide non‑privileged documents or information for discovery or as evidence. A department or agency head can refuse if they believe giving the material would harm the public interest. The court may also use other discovery methods under its rules to get relevant non‑privileged materials, and it may rely on reports from Senate or House committees.

Full Legal Text

Title 28, §2507

Judiciary and Judicial Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The United States Court of Federal Claims may call upon any department or agency of the United States or upon any party for any information or papers, not privileged, for purposes of discovery or for use as evidence. The head of any department or agency may refuse to comply with a call issued pursuant to this subsection when, in his opinion, compliance will be injurious to the public interest.
(b)Without limitation on account of anything contained in subsection (a) of this section, the court may, in accordance with its rules, provide additional means for the discovery of any relevant facts, books, papers, documents or tangible things, not privileged.
(c)The Court of Federal Claims may use all recorded and printed reports made by the committees of the Senate or House of Representatives.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 272 (Mar. 3, 1911, ch. 231, § 164, 36 Stat. 1140). Words “or agency” were added. (See reviser’s note under section 1345 of this title.) Changes were made in phraseology.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1992—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–572, § 902(a)(1), substituted “United States Court of Federal Claims” for “United States Claims Court”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 102–572, § 902(a)(2), substituted “Court of Federal Claims” for “Claims Court”. 1982—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 97–164, § 139(f)(1), substituted “United States Claims Court” for “Court of Claims”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 97–164, § 139(f)(2), substituted “Claims Court” for “Court of Claims”. 1954—Act Sept. 3, 1954, substituted “Calls and discovery” for “Calls on departments for information” in section catchline, designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), and added subsecs. (b) and (c).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1992 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 102–572 effective Oct. 29, 1992, see section 911 of Pub. L. 102–572, set out as a note under section 171 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1982 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 97–164 effective Oct. 1, 1982, see section 402 of Pub. L. 97–164, set out as a note under section 171 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

28 U.S.C. § 2507

Title 28Judiciary and Judicial Procedure

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73