Title 42The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§238g Wearing of uniforms

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 6A— - PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - ADMINISTRATION AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › Part Part B— - Miscellaneous Provisions › § 238g

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

After the President issues rules, only commissioned officers may wear the Service uniform, its insignia, or any similar parts.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §238g

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Except as may be authorized by regulations of the President, the insignia and uniform of commissioned officers of the Service, or any distinctive part of such insignia or uniform, or any insignia or uniform any part of which is similar to a distinctive part thereof, shall not be worn, after the promulgation of such regulations, by any person other than a commissioned officer of the Service.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was formerly classified to section 300aaa–7 of this title prior to renumbering by Pub. L. 103–43, to section 300cc–9 of this title prior to renumbering by Pub. L. 100–607, to section 300aa–9 of this title prior to renumbering by Pub. L. 99–660, and to section 228 of this title prior to renumbering by Pub. L. 98–24.

Amendments

1948—Act June 25, 1948, struck out penal provisions. See section 702 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

“Secretary of Health and Human Services” substituted for “Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare” pursuant to section 509(b) of Pub. L. 96–88, which is classified to section 3508(b) of Title 20, Education.

Effective Date

of 1948 AmendmentAmendment effective Sept. 1, 1948, see section 20 of act June 25, 1948.

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

Functions of Public Health Service, Surgeon General of Public Health Service, and all other officers and employees of Public Health Service, and functions of all agencies of or in Public Health Service transferred to Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare by Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1966, eff. June 25, 1966, 31 F.R. 8855, 80 Stat. 1610, set out as a note under section 202 of this title. Delegation of Functions Functions of President delegated to Secretary of Health and Human Services, see Ex. Ord. No. 11140, Jan. 30, 1964, 29 F.R. 1637, as amended, set out as a note under section 202 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 238g

Title 42The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73