Title 44Public Printing and DocumentsRelease 119-73

§304 Director of the Government Publishing Office: vacancy in office

Title 44 › Chapter CHAPTER 3— - GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE › § 304

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

If the Director dies, resigns, is absent, or is sick, the Deputy Director must act as Director until a successor is appointed or the Director returns; the President may instead name a Senate‑confirmed officer to serve. Temporary fills for death or resignation cannot exceed ten days and apply only to vacancies that occur during a Senate recess.

Full Legal Text

Title 44, §304

Public Printing and Documents — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

In case of the death, resignation, absence, or sickness of the Director of the Government Publishing Office, the Deputy Director of the Government Publishing Office shall perform the duties of the Director of the Government Publishing Office until a successor is appointed or the Director’s absence or sickness ceases; but the President may direct any other officer of the Government, whose appointment is vested in the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to perform the duties of the vacant office until a successor is appointed, or the sickness or absence of the Director of the Government Publishing Office ceases. A vacancy occasioned by death or resignation may not be filled temporarily under this section for longer than ten days, and a temporary appointment, designation, or assignment of another officer may not be made except to fill a vacancy happening during a recess of the Senate.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Based on 44 U.S. Code, 1964 ed., § 32 (Jan. 12, 1895, ch. 23, § 36, 28 Stat. 606; May 27, 1908, ch. 200, § 1, 35 Stat. 382.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2014—Pub. L. 113–235, § 1301(i)(1), substituted “or the Director’s” for “or his”. Pub. L. 113–235, § 1301(e)(1), substituted “Deputy Director of the Government Publishing Office” for “Deputy Public Printer”. Pub. L. 113–235, § 1301(c), substituted “Director of the Government Publishing Office” for “Public Printer” in section catchline and wherever appearing in text.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

44 U.S.C. § 304

Title 44Public Printing and Documents

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73