Title 5 — Government Organization and EmployeesRelease 119-73

§8480 Subpoena authority

Title 5 › Part PART III— - EMPLOYEES › Subpart Subpart G— - Insurance and Annuities › Chapter CHAPTER 84— - FEDERAL EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER VII— - FEDERAL RETIREMENT THRIFT INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM › § 8480

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Executive Director can issue a subpoena that requires anyone to turn over specific books, documents, electronic files, or other physical items they have or control to help carry out the agency’s duties. Even if other laws say otherwise, anyone who in good faith follows the subpoena cannot be sued in state or federal court by any person or business for giving those materials. If someone refuses to obey, a federal district court where the investigation is happening or where the person is found can order them to comply and may punish contempt for disobedience. The Executive Director must write rules to explain how this subpoena power works.

Full Legal Text

Title 5, §8480

Government Organization and Employees — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In order to carry out the responsibilities specified in this subchapter and subchapter III of this chapter, the Executive Director may issue subpoenas commanding each person to whom the subpoena is directed to produce designated books, documents, records, electronically stored information, or tangible materials in the possession or control of that individual.

(b)Notwithstanding any Federal, State, or local law, any person, including officers, agents, and employees, receiving a subpoena under this section, who complies in good faith with the subpoena and thus produces the materials sought, shall not be liable in any court of any State or the United States to any individual, domestic or foreign corporation or upon a partnership or other unincorporated association for such production.

(c)When a person fails to obey a subpoena issued under this section, the district court of the United States for the district in which the investigation is conducted or in which the person failing to obey is found, shall on proper application issue an order directing that person to comply with the subpoena. The court may punish as contempt any disobedience of its order.

(d)The Executive Director shall prescribe regulations to carry out subsection (a).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

5 U.S.C. § 8480

Title 5 — Government Organization and Employees

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73