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Title 5, Government Organization and EmployeesRelease 119-102

§704 Actions Reviewable

Title 5 › PART I — THE AGENCIES GENERALLY › CHAPTER 7 — JUDICIAL REVIEW › § 704

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

Courts can review agency actions when a law allows it or when a final agency decision has no way to be fixed in court. Early or procedural agency steps that can’t be reviewed right away may be reviewed later when the final decision is reviewed. Unless a law says otherwise, a final agency decision counts as final for court review even if someone has asked the agency for a formal ruling, reconsideration, or an internal appeal—unless the agency’s rules put the decision on hold.

Full Legal Text

Title 5, §704

Government Organization and Employees, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Agency action made reviewable by statute and final agency action for which there is no other adequate remedy in a court are subject to judicial review. A preliminary, procedural, or intermediate agency action or ruling not directly reviewable is subject to review on the review of the final agency action. Except as otherwise expressly required by statute, agency action otherwise final is final for the purposes of this section whether or not there has been presented or determined an application for a declaratory order, for any form of reconsideration, or, unless the agency otherwise requires by rule and provides that the action meanwhile is inoperative, for an appeal to superior agency authority.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

DerivationU.S. CodeRevised Statutes andStatutes at Large 5 U.S.C. 1009(c).June 11, 1946, ch. 324, § 10(c), 60 Stat. 243. Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface of this report.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

5 U.S.C. § 704

Title 5, Government Organization and Employees

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102