Title 5Government Organization and EmployeesRelease 119-73

§503 Witness fees and allowances

Title 5 › Part PART I— - THE AGENCIES GENERALLY › Chapter CHAPTER 5— - ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - GENERAL PROVISIONS › § 503

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

A witness must get the same fees and allowances as witnesses in U.S. courts when subpoenaed under section 304(a) or when subpoenaed to and appearing at a hearing held by an agency. Agency — the term has the meaning given in section 5721 of this title.

Full Legal Text

Title 5, §503

Government Organization and Employees — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)For the purpose of this section, “agency” has the meaning given it by section 5721 of this title.
(b)A witness is entitled to the fees and allowances allowed by statute for witnesses in the courts of the United States when—
(1)he is subpenaed under section 304(a) of this title; or
(2)he is subpenaed to and appears at a hearing before an agency authorized by law to hold hearings and subpena witnesses to attend the hearings.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

DerivationU.S. CodeRevised Statutes andStatutes at Large 5 U.S.C. 95.R.S. § 185. 5 U.S.C. 95a.Aug. 2, 1946, ch. 744, § 10, 60 Stat. 809. Former section 95 and 95a are combined and restated for clarity and brevity. The words “or expenses in the case of Government officers and employees” are omitted as covered by section 1823 of title 28. The word “agency” is substituted for “department” and defined to conform to the definition of “department” in section 18 of the Act of Aug. 2, 1946, ch. 744, 60 Stat. 811. This section was part of title IV of the Revised Statutes. The Act of July 26, 1947, ch. 343, § 201(d), as added Aug. 10, 1949, ch. 412, § 4, 63 Stat. 579 (former 5 U.S.C. 171–1), which provides “Except to the extent inconsistent with the provisions of this Act [National Security Act of 1947], the provisions of title IV of the Revised Statutes as now or hereafter amended shall be applicable to the Department of Defense” is omitted from this title but is not repealed. Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

5 U.S.C. § 503

Title 5Government Organization and Employees

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73