Title 5 — Government Organization and EmployeesRelease 119-73
§5541 Definitions
Title 5 › Part PART III— - EMPLOYEES › Subpart Subpart D— - Pay and Allowances › Chapter CHAPTER 55— - PAY ADMINISTRATION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER V— - PREMIUM PAY › § 5541
Summary
Defines three key words used in this part: agency, employee, and law enforcement officer. Agency means the federal bodies covered here, including Executive agencies, military departments, agencies in the judicial branch, the Library of Congress, the Botanic Garden, the Office of the Architect of the Capitol, and the government of the District of Columbia. Employee means people who work for Executive agencies or the District of Columbia and certain staff in the judicial branch, Library, Botanic Garden, and Architect of the Capitol whose jobs are covered by specific federal pay and personnel rules. It also specifically includes a list of named groups such as judges; agency heads (other than the DC government head); certain DC teachers and school staff; members of the Metropolitan Police and D.C. Fire Department and some U.S. Park Police; student-employees; workers paid by local native prevailing wages outside the continental U.S. or in Alaska; Tennessee Valley Authority and certain federal bank employees; certain vessel employees; teachers as defined in 20 U.S.C. 901; Foreign Service officers and senior Foreign Service members; Senior Executive Service members; and FBI and DEA Senior Executive Service members. Law enforcement officer means an employee who meets the definitions in 5 U.S.C. 8331(20) or 8401(17), or who would meet those definitions if they had moved from a law enforcement role into a supervisory or administrative position (including a supervisory employee who did law enforcement work for at least 3 years), or whose position OPM says would qualify, or who is a Diplomatic Security Service special agent.
Full Legal Text
Title 5, §5541
Government Organization and Employees — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
For the purpose of this subchapter—
(1)“agency” means—
(A)an Executive agency;
(B)a military department;
(C)an agency in the judicial branch;
(D)the Library of Congress;
(E)the Botanic Garden;
(F)the Office of the Architect of the Capitol; and
(G)the government of the District of Columbia;
(2)“employee” means—
(A)an employee in or under an Executive agency;
(B)an individual employed by the government of the District of Columbia; and
(C)an employee in or under the judicial branch, the Library of Congress, the Botanic Garden, and the Office of the Architect of the Capitol, who occupies a position subject to chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of this title;
(i)a justice or judge of the United States;
(ii)the head of an agency other than the government of the District of Columbia;
(iii)a teacher, school official, or employee of the Board of Education of the District of Columbia, whose pay is fixed under chapter 15 of title 31, District of Columbia Code;
(iv)a member of—
(I)the Metropolitan Police or the Fire Department of the District of Columbia; or
(II)a member of the United States Park Police, other than for purposes of section 11 So in original. Probably should be “sections”. 5545(a) and 5546;
(v)a student-employee as defined by section 5351 of this title;
[(vi)Repealed. Pub. L. 91–375, § 6(c)(16), Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 776;]
(vii)an employee outside the continental United States or in Alaska who is paid in accordance with local native prevailing wage rates for the area in which employed;
(viii)an employee of the Tennessee Valley Authority;
(ix)an individual to whom section 1291(a) 22 See References in Text note below. of title 50, appendix, applies;
(x)an employee of a Federal land bank, a Federal intermediate credit bank, or a bank for cooperatives;
(xi)an employee whose pay is fixed and adjusted from time to time in accordance with prevailing rates under subchapter IV of chapter 53 of this title, or by a wage board or similar administrative authority serving the same purpose, except as provided by section 5544 or 5550b of this title;
(xii)an employee of the Transportation Corps of the Army on a vessel operated by the United States, a vessel employee of the Environmental Science Services Administration, or a vessel employee of the Department of the Interior;
(xiii)a “teacher” or an individual holding a “teaching position” as defined by section 901 of title 20;
(xiv)a Foreign Service officer;
(xv)a member of the Senior Foreign Service;
(xvi)member of the Senior Executive Service; or
(xvii)a member of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration Senior Executive Service; and
(3)“law enforcement officer” means an employee who—
(A)is a law enforcement officer within the meaning of section 8331(20) or 8401(17);
(B)in the case of an employee who holds a supervisory or administrative position and is subject to subchapter III of chapter 83, but who does not qualify to be considered a law enforcement officer within the meaning of section 8331(20), would so qualify if such employee had transferred directly to such position after serving as a law enforcement officer within the meaning of such section;
(C)in the case of an employee who holds a supervisory or administrative position and is subject to chapter 84, but who does not qualify to be considered a law enforcement officer within the meaning of section 8401(17), would so qualify if such employee had transferred directly to such position after performing duties described in section 8401(17)(A) and (B) for at least 3 years; and
(D)in the case of an employee who is not subject to subchapter III of chapter 83 or chapter 84—
(i)holds a position that the Office of Personnel Management determines would satisfy subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) if the employee were subject to subchapter III of chapter 83 or chapter 84; or
(ii)is a special agent in the Diplomatic Security Service.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
DerivationU.S. CodeRevised Statutes andStatutes at Large 5 U.S.C. 901(a), (d), (e).
June 30, 1945, ch. 212 § 101(a), (d), (e), 59 Stat. 295, 296. Sept. 1, 1954, ch. 1208, § 202(a), 68 Stat. 1109. 5 U.S.C. 902 (less clause (1) and last sentence of (a)).
June 30, 1945, ch. 212, § 102 (less clause (1) and last sentence of (a)), 59 Stat. 296.
May 24, 1946, ch. 270, § 8(a), 60 Stat. 218. Aug. 4, 1947, ch. 452, § 1, 61 Stat. 727. Aug. 18, 1959, Pub. L. 86–168, § 202(c) 73 Stat. 389. 5 U.S.C. 2358(a) (as applicable to the Federal Employees Pay Act of 1945, as amended).
July 17, 1959, Pub. L. 86–91, § 10(a) (as applicable to the Federal Employees Pay Act of 1945, as amended), 73 Stat. 217. The section is revised as a definition section. The provisions of former section 901(d) are omitted as unnecessary because the sections referred to state their application and there is no need to restate the application here. In paragraph (1), the terms “Executive agency” and “military department” are substituted for the references in former section 901(a) and (e) to the executive branch, including Government-owned or controlled corporations, and the General Accounting Office in view of the definitions in section 105 and 102. In paragraph (2)(iii), the words “chapter 15 of title 31, District of Columbia Code” are substituted for the reference in former section 902(a)(4) to “the Teachers Salary Act of
June 4, 1924, as amended” on authority of the provisions contained therein. Enumeration of the individuals to which the provisions apply are added. In paragraph (2)(iv), the provisions of former section 902(a)(5) and (b)(6) are combined. In paragraph (2)(v), the words “student-employee as defined by section 5351 of this title” are coextensive with and substituted for the enumeration of the employees in former section 902(a)(6). In paragraph (2)(iv), (vi), (vii), (viii), (ix), (xi), and (xii), the reference to former section 947 is omitted as that section was repealed by the Act of Sept. 12, 1950, ch. 946, § 301(85), 64 Stat. 843. In paragraph (2)(xii), the reference to former section 946 is omitted as unnecessary since that section is not carried into this subchapter. The words “Panama Canal Company” are substituted for “Panama Railroad Company” on authority of the Act of Sept. 2, 1950, ch. 1049, § 2(a)(2), 64 Stat. 1038. In paragraph (2)(xiii), the words “as defined by section 901 of title 20” are added on authority of former section 2351, which section is scheduled for transfer to section 901 of title 20. The exception for officers and employees of the Inland Waterways Corporation in former section 902(b)(3) is omitted on authority of the Act of
July 19, 1963, Pub. L. 88–67, 77 Stat. 81. 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
References in Text
section 1291(a) of title 50, appendix, referred to in par. (2)(C)(ix), is section 1(a) of act Mar. 24, 1943, ch. 26, 57 Stat. 45, which was classified to section 1291(a) of the former Appendix to Title 50, War and National Defense, prior to editorial reclassification as section 4701(a) of Title 50.
Amendments
2010—Par. (2)(iv)(II). Pub. L. 111–282 struck out “a member of the United States Secret Service Uniformed Division,” before “a member of the United States Park Police”. 2008—Par. (2)(xi). Pub. L. 110–181 substituted “section 5544 or 5550b” for “section 5544”. 1996—Par. (2)(xii). Pub. L. 104–201 inserted “or” after “Services Administration,” and struck out “, or a vessel employee of the Panama Canal Commission” after “Interior”. 1992—Par. (3). Pub. L. 102–378 added par. (3). 1990—Par. (2)(iv). Pub. L. 101–509 amended cl. (iv) generally. Prior to amendment, cl. (iv) read as follows: “a member of the Metropolitan Police, the Fire Department of the District of Columbia, the United States Park Police, or the Executive Protective Service;”. 1988—Par. (2)(xvii). Pub. L. 100–325 added cl. (xvii). 1980—Par. (2)(xiv). Pub. L. 96–465 struck out “within the meaning of section 401 of the Foreign Service Act of 1946” after “officer”. Par. (2)(xv). Pub. L. 96–465 substituted “a member of the Senior Foreign Service” for “a ‘Foreign Service information officer’ as provided for by the first section of the Act entitled ‘An Act to promote the foreign policy of the United States by strengthening and improving the Foreign Service personnel system of the International Communication Agency through establishment of a Foreign Service Information Officer Corps’, approved August 20, 1968”. 1979—Par. (2)(xii). Pub. L. 96–70 substituted “Commission” for “Company”. 1978—Par. (2)(xvi). Pub. L. 95–454 added cl. (xvi). Par. (2)(xv). Pub. L. 95–426 substituted “International Communication Agency” for “United States Information Agency”. 1977—Par. (2)(xiv), (xv). Pub. L. 95–105 added cls. (xiv) and (xv). 1975—Par. (2)(iv). Pub. L. 94–183 substituted “Executive Protective Service” for “White House Police”. 1972—Par. (2)(xi). Pub. L. 92–392 substituted “pay” for “basic pay” and provided for determination of pay under subchapter IV of chapter 53 of this title. 1970—Par. (2)(vi). Pub. L. 91–375 repealed cl. (vi) which excluded an employee in the postal field service from definition of “employee”. 1967—Par. (2)(xii). Pub. L. 90–83 substituted “Environmental Science Services Administration” for “Coast and Geodetic Survey”. See
Historical and Revision Notes
under section 2101 of this title.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2010 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 111–282 effective on first day of first pay period which begins after Oct. 15, 2010, see section 5 of Pub. L. 111–282, set out as a note under section 5102 of this title.
Effective Date
of 2008 Amendment Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title XI, § 1111(c), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 360, provided that: “The
Amendments
made by this section [amending this section and section 5550b of this title] shall take effect on the earlier of— “(1) the
Effective Date
of any
Regulations
prescribed to carry out such
Amendments
or “(2) the 90th day after the date of the enactment of this Act [Jan. 28, 2008].”
Effective Date
of 1992 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 102–378 effective as of first day of first applicable pay period beginning on or after Oct. 2, 1992, see section 9(b)(9) of Pub. L. 102–378, set out as a note under section 6303 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1990 Amendment Pub. L. 101–509, title V, § 529 [title IV, § 411(b)], Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1427, 1469, provided that: “The amendment made by this section [amending this section] shall be effective on January 1, 1992.”
Effective Date
of 1980 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 96–465 effective Feb. 15, 1981, except as otherwise provided, see section 2403 of Pub. L. 96–465, set out as an
Effective Date
note under section 3901 of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse.
Effective Date
of 1979 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 96–70 effective Oct. 1, 1979, see section 3304 of Pub. L. 96–70, set out as an
Effective Date
note under section 3601 of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse.
Effective Date
of 1978
Amendments
Amendment by Pub. L. 95–454 effective 9 months after Oct. 13, 1978, and congressional review of provisions of sections 401 through 412 of Pub. L. 95–454, see section 415 of Pub. L. 95–454, set out as an
Effective Date
note under section 3131 of this title. Pub. L. 95–426, title II, § 204(b)(5)(B), Oct. 7, 1978, 92 Stat. 974, provided that the amendment made by such section 204(b)(5)(B) is effective Oct. 1, 1978.
Effective Date
of 1977 Amendment section 412(a)(2) of Pub. L. 95–105 provided that: “The
Amendments
made by paragraph (1) [amending this section] shall take effect on October 1, 1978.”
Effective Date
of 1972 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 92–392 effective on first day of first applicable pay period beginning on or after 90th day after Aug. 19, 1972, see section 15(a) of Pub. L. 92–392, set out as an
Effective Date
note under section 5341 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1970 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 91–375 effective within 1 year after Aug. 12, 1970, on date established therefor by Board of Governors of United States Postal Service and published by it in Federal Register, see section 15(a) of Pub. L. 91–375, set out as an
Effective Date
note preceding section 101 of Title 39, Postal Service.
Short Title
of 1994 Amendment Pub. L. 103–329, title VI, § 633(a), Sept. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 2425, provided that: “This section [enacting section 5545a of this title, amending section 5542 and 5547 of this title and section 213 of Title 29, Labor, and enacting provisions set out as notes under section 5545a of this title] may be cited as the ‘Law
Enforcement
Availability Pay Act of 1994’.” Availability of Premium Pay for Attorneys Employed in Department of Justice Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(1) [title I, § 115], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1535, 1501A–21, provided that: “(a) None of the funds made available by this or any other Act may be used to pay premium pay under title 5, United States Code, section 5542–5549, to any individual employed as an attorney, including an Assistant United States Attorney, in the Department of Justice for any work performed on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 29, 1999]. “(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, neither the United States nor any individual or entity acting on its behalf shall be liable for premium pay under title 5, United States Code, section 5542–5549, for any work performed on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 29, 1999] by any individual employed as an attorney in the Department of Justice, including an Assistant United States Attorney.” [Pub. L. 106–553, § 1(a)(2) [title I, § 111], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2762, 2762A–68, provided that: “section 115 of the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2000 (as enacted into law by section 1000(a)(1) of Public Law 106–113) [set out above] shall apply hereafter.” ] Sense of Congress Relating to Law
Enforcement
Officer Provisions Pub. L. 102–378, § 2(40)(D), Oct. 2, 1992, 106 Stat. 1351, provided that: “It is the sense of the Congress that— “(i) the provisions of section 5541(3) of title 5, United States Code (as added by section 2(40)(C) of this Act)—“(I) are enacted only for the purposes of pay and not for the purposes of retirement; “(II) do not reflect any intent of the Congress to change retirement eligibility standards for law
Enforcement
officers; and “(ii) law
Enforcement
officers in primary positions have different retirement eligibility standards than employees in supervisory or administrative positions because of the different requirements in their responsibilities.” Payment of Bonuses for Foreign Language Capabilities Pub. L. 100–690, title VI, § 6401, Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4370, as amended by Pub. L. 101–509, title V, § 529 [title IV, § 408(c)], Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1427, 1468, provided that: “(a) In General.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Drug
Enforcement
Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are authorized on and after October 1, 1988, to pay bonuses up to 25 percent of base pay to employees of the Drug
Enforcement
Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation who possess and make substantial use of one or more languages, other than English, in the performance of their official duties. The Administrator of the Drug
Enforcement
Administration and the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation shall develop such policies as necessary to implement the payment of these bonuses. “(b) Limitation.—The provisions of this section shall apply only to an employee who has received a bonus under this section before January 1, 1992. The provisions of subchapter III of chapter 45 of title 5, United States Code, shall apply to any employee who would otherwise be eligible to receive a bonus under this section, on and after such date.”
Executive Documents
Transfer of Functions
Environmental Science Services Administration in Department of Commerce, including offices of Administrator and Deputy Administrator thereof, abolished by Reorg. Plan No. 4 of 1970, eff. Oct. 3, 1970, 35 F.R. 15627, 84 Stat. 2090, set out in the Appendix to this title, which created National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Department of Commerce and transferred personnel, property, records, and unexpended balances of funds of Environmental Science Services Administration to such newly created National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Components of Environmental Science Services Administration thus transferred included Weather Bureau [now National Weather Service], Coast and Geodetic Survey [now National Ocean Survey], Environmental Data Service, National Environmental Satellite Center, and ESSA Research Laboratories.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
5 U.S.C. § 5541
Title 5 — Government Organization and Employees
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73