PRIA Logo™
Title 5 — Government Organization and EmployeesRelease 119-73not60

§558 Imposition of Sanctions; Determination of Applications for Licenses; Suspension, Revocation, and Expiration of Licenses

Title 5 › Part I— THE AGENCIES GENERALLY › Chapter 5— ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE › Subchapter II— ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE › § 558

Last updated Apr 3, 2026|Official source

Summary

Agencies may only use powers or punishments that the law and their assigned authority let them use. When someone applies for a required license, the agency must hold any needed hearings under sections 556 and 557 or other law, respect affected parties’ rights, act in a reasonable time, and then decide. A license can be withdrawn, suspended, revoked, or canceled only if the agency first gives the licensee written notice of the facts or conduct that might justify the action and a chance to show or fix compliance—unless the action is for willfulness or needed for public health, interest, or safety.

Full Legal Text

Title 5, §558

Government Organization and Employees — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)This section applies, according to the provisions thereof, to the exercise of a power or authority.
(b)A sanction may not be imposed or a substantive rule or order issued except within jurisdiction delegated to the agency and as authorized by law.
(c)When application is made for a license required by law, the agency, with due regard for the rights and privileges of all the interested parties or adversely affected persons and within a reasonable time, shall set and complete proceedings required to be conducted in accordance with section 556 and 557 of this title or other proceedings required by law and shall make its decision. Except in cases of willfulness or those in which public health, interest, or safety requires otherwise, the withdrawal, suspension, revocation, or annulment of a license is lawful only if, before the institution of agency proceedings therefor, the licensee has been given—
(1)notice by the agency in writing of the facts or conduct which may warrant the action; and
(2)opportunity to demonstrate or achieve compliance with all lawful requirements.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

DerivationU.S. CodeRevised Statutes andStatutes at Large 5 U.S.C. 1008.June 11, 1946, ch. 324, § 9, 60 Stat. 242. In subsection (b), the prohibition is restated in positive form. In subsection (c), the words “within a reasonable time” are substituted for “with reasonable dispatch”. The last two sentences are restated for conciseness and clarity and to restate the prohibition in positive form. 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

Codification section 558 of former Title 5, Executive Departments and Government Officers and Employees, was transferred to section 2209 of Title 7, Agriculture.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

5 U.S.C. § 558

Title 5 — Government Organization and Employees

Last Updated

Apr 3, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60