§382 — Title 6 Domestic Security | U.S. Code

§382 Use of proceeds derived from criminal investigations

Title 6 › Chapter CHAPTER 1— - HOMELAND SECURITY ORGANIZATION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER VIII— - COORDINATION WITH NON-FEDERAL ENTITIES; INSPECTOR GENERAL; UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE; COAST GUARD; GENERAL PROVISIONS › Part Part C— - United States Secret Service › § 382

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Starting in fiscal year 2014, the Secret Service may use its appropriated money and any leftover funds for undercover work needed to find and prosecute federal crimes. It can buy or lease property and facilities inside the United States, set up or buy and run business fronts, put operation money into banks, and use money earned to pay necessary operation costs. For those undercover actions, the Service is allowed not to follow certain usual federal rules about buying, leasing, banking, and funds. The Director of the Secret Service or a chosen official must put the permission in writing and say it is needed for the undercover operation. That written approval lasts for the life of the operation. When the operation no longer needs the money, any remaining proceeds must be put into the U.S. Treasury as miscellaneous receipts. If a business made or bought for an operation is worth more than $50,000 and will be sold or closed, the Service must tell the Secretary of Homeland Security ahead of time and send the net sale money to the Treasury. The Service must run detailed financial audits of closed certified undercover operations every quarter and report them to the Secretary. The Secretary must send a yearly summary of those audits to the Senate and House Appropriations Committees when the President’s budget is submitted.

Title 6, §382

Domestic Security — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)During fiscal year 2014 and thereafter, with respect to any undercover investigative operation of the United States Secret Service (hereafter referred to in this section as the “Secret Service”) that is necessary for the detection and prosecution of crimes against the United States—

(1)sums appropriated for the Secret Service, including unobligated balances available from prior fiscal years, may be used for purchasing property, buildings, and other facilities, and for leasing space, within the United States, the District of Columbia, and the territories and possessions of the United States, without regard to section 1341 and 3324 of title 31, section 8141 of title 40, section 6301(a), (b)(1) to (3) and 6306(a) of title 41, and section 3901 and chapter 45 of title 41;

(2)sums appropriated for the Secret Service, including unobligated balances available from prior fiscal years, may be used to establish or to acquire proprietary corporations or business entities as part of such undercover operation, and to operate such corporations or business entities on a commercial basis, without regard to section 9102 and 9103 of title 31;

(3)sums appropriated for the Secret Service, including unobligated balances available from prior fiscal years and the proceeds from such undercover operation, may be deposited in banks or other financial institutions, without regard to section 648 of title 18 and section 3302 of title 31; and

(4)proceeds from such undercover operation may be used to offset necessary and reasonable expenses incurred in such operation, without regard to section 3302 of title 31.

(b)The authority set forth in subsection (a) may be exercised only upon the written certification of the Director of the Secret Service or designee that any action authorized by any paragraph of such subsection is necessary for the conduct of an undercover investigative operation. Such certification shall continue in effect for the duration of such operation, without regard to fiscal years.

(c)As soon as practicable after the proceeds from an undercover investigative operation with respect to which an action is authorized and carried out under paragraphs (3) and (4) of subsection (a) are no longer necessary for the conduct of such operation, such proceeds or the balance of such proceeds remaining at the time shall be deposited in the Treasury of the United States as miscellaneous receipts.

(d)If a corporation or business entity established or acquired as part of an undercover investigative operation under paragraph (2) of subsection (a) with a net value of over $50,000 is to be liquidated, sold, or otherwise disposed of, the Secret Service, as much in advance as the Director or designee determines is practicable, shall report the circumstance to the Secretary of Homeland Security. The proceeds of the liquidation, sale, or other disposition, after obligations are met, shall be deposited in the Treasury of the United States as miscellaneous receipts.

(e)(1)The Secret Service shall conduct detailed financial audits of closed undercover investigative operations for which a written certification was made pursuant to subsection (b) on a quarterly basis and shall report the results of the audits in writing to the Secretary of Homeland Security.

(2)The Secretary of Homeland Security shall annually submit to the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and House of Representatives, at the time that the President’s budget is submitted under section 1105(a) of title 31, a summary of such audits.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification In subsec. (a)(1), “section 6301(a), (b)(1) to (3) and 6306(a) of title 41,” substituted for “section 3732(a) and 3741 of the Revised Statutes of the United States (41 U.S.C. 11(a) and 22),” and “section 3901 and chapter 45 of title 41” substituted for “section 304(a) and 305 of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (41 U.S.C 254(a) and 255)” on authority of Pub. L. 111–350, § 6(c), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3854, which Act enacted Title 41, Public Contracts. Section was enacted as part of the appropriation act cited in the credit to this section, and not as part of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 which comprises this chapter.

Amendments

2014—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 113–76 substituted “2014 and thereafter” for “2013” in introductory provisions. 2013—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 113–6 substituted “2013” for “2012” in introductory provisions. 2011—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 112–74 substituted “2012” for “2011” in introductory provisions. Pub. L. 112–10 substituted “2011” for “2010” in introductory provisions. 2009—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 111–83 substituted “2010” for “2009” in introductory provisions. 2008—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 110–329 substituted “2009” for “2008” in introductory provisions. 2007—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 110–161 substituted “2008” for “2007” in introductory provisions.