Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-102
§2276 Tampering with Restricted Data
Title 42 › CHAPTER 23 — DEVELOPMENT AND CONTROL OF ATOMIC ENERGY › SUBCHAPTER XVII — ENFORCEMENT OF CHAPTER › § 2276
Summary
Anyone who intends to injure the U.S. or help a foreign nation and tampers with or destroys Restricted Data used to produce special nuclear material or in U.S. or federally funded atomic energy work is punishable by life, term of years, fine up to $20,000, or both.
Full Legal Text
Title 42, §2276
The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Whoever, with intent to injure the United States or with intent to secure an advantage to any foreign nation, removes, conceals, tampers with, alters, mutilates, or destroys any document, writing, sketch, photograph, plan, model, instrument, appliance, or note involving or incorporating Restricted Data and used by any individual or person in connection with the production of special nuclear material, or research or development relating to atomic energy, conducted by the United States, or financed in whole or in part by Federal funds, or conducted with the aid of special nuclear material, shall be punished by imprisonment for life, or by imprisonment for any term of years or a fine of not more than $20,000 or both.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1969—Pub. L. 91–161 made death penalty inapplicable for willful violation, or attempted violation of this section with intent to injure the United States, or secure an advantage for any foreign nation.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1969 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 91–161 applicable to offenses committed on or after Dec. 24, 1969, see section 7 of Pub. L. 91–161, set out as a note under section 2272 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
42 U.S.C. § 2276
Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102