§209 Salary of Government Officials and Employees Payable Only by United States

Summary

Officers and employees of the executive branch, independent federal agencies, and the District of Columbia must be paid only by the U.S. Government. If they get a salary, a payment toward their salary, or a top‑up from anyone else (except money from a State, county, or city treasury), or if anyone else pays or supplements their pay in a way that breaks this rule, they face the penalties in section 216. Allowed exceptions include staying in a legitimate pension, retirement, insurance, profit‑sharing, stock‑bonus, or other former‑employer benefit plan; special government employees or unpaid workers; payments allowed under chapter 41 of title 5; actual relocation expenses for participants in approved executive exchange or fellowship programs established by law or a President’s order (appointments up to 365 days, with no extensions over 90 days or, for overseas assignments, over 365 days); contributions to employees injured during offenses listed in sections 351 or 1751 from 501(c)(3) tax‑exempt organizations (under 501(a)); private employers continuing pay and benefits while their worker is assigned under chapter 37 of title 5 (the term “agency” means the agency in section 3701 of title 5 and the DC Office of the Chief Technology Officer); and reserve or Space Force members called to active duty under the law cited in 10 U.S.C. 101(a)(13) may receive from their civilian employer any part of the wages that employer would have paid if the call hadn’t interrupted employment.