Title 28 › Part PART II— - DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE › Chapter CHAPTER 31— - THE ATTORNEY GENERAL › § 530C
The Attorney General can use Justice Department money and run DOJ work in many ways. The Department can use its own staff, share or borrow staff with other federal agencies, make contracts or grants with outside groups, or work under other laws that allow similar arrangements. DOJ money can pay for many things, including vehicles (passenger and police), insurance for vehicles and aircraft overseas, experts and private lawyers at set pay limits, official receptions and tours, secret emergency costs, travel, training, hiring people for work abroad (not made into federal employees), paying non-U.S. interpreters, uniforms, school and travel costs for dependents overseas when needed, and other miscellaneous or emergency expenses. The Attorney General may help state or local officials investigate shootings and mass killings (a “mass killing” means three or more people killed in one incident) and may use funds for aircraft, boats, ammunition, firearms, construction work, witness fees and protection, FBI crime work, specific immigration enforcement and detention needs, and prison system services and construction. Only lawyers who are licensed in a U.S. State, territory, or D.C. can be paid for legal work (except in some special foreign-law cases). Money paid back to DOJ from others can be used under the rules that apply to the payer. Payments from friendly foreign countries for joint projects may be put into DOJ accounts but used only for that country’s share. The Attorney General may set and collect a fee for railroad police training to cover FBI costs, and may seek and keep warranty payments from companies that fix DOJ equipment under warranty. Rewards paid for public tips are allowed up to $3,000,000 unless tied to terrorism or another law allows more; any reward of $250,000 or more needs the Attorney General’s or the President’s personal approval and a written notice to certain Congressional committee leaders within 30 days.
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Judiciary and Judicial Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
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28 U.S.C. § 530C
Title 28 — Judiciary and Judicial Procedure
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73