Title 5Government Organization and EmployeesRelease 119-73

§4503 Agency awards

Title 5 › Part PART III— - EMPLOYEES › Subpart Subpart C— - Employee Performance › Chapter CHAPTER 45— - INCENTIVE AWARDS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - AWARDS FOR SUPERIOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS › § 4503

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

An agency head can give an employee a cash award or pay to honor them for improving government work, saving money or cutting paperwork, or for doing a special public service that is connected to their job.

Full Legal Text

Title 5, §4503

Government Organization and Employees — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The head of an agency may pay a cash award to, and incur necessary expense for the honorary recognition of, an employee who—
(1)by his suggestion, invention, superior accomplishment, or other personal effort contributes to the efficiency, economy, or other improvement of Government operations or achieves a significant reduction in paperwork; or
(2)performs a special act or service in the public interest in connection with or related to his official employment.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

DerivationU.S. CodeRevised Statutes andStatutes at Large 5 U.S.C. 2123(a).Sept. 1, 1954, ch. 1208, § 304(a), 68 Stat. 1113. The word “employee” is substituted for “civilian officers and employees of the Government” in view of the definition of “employee” in section 4501. Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1978—Par. (1). Pub. L. 95–454 inserted “or achieves a significant reduction in paperwork”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1978 Amendment Pub. L. 95–454, title V, § 504(a), Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1184, provided that amendment by Pub. L. 95–454 was effective on first day of first applicable pay period which began on or after Oct. 1, 1981, except it could take effect with respect to any category or categories of positions before such day to extent prescribed by Director of Office of Personnel Management.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

5 U.S.C. § 4503

Title 5Government Organization and Employees

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73