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Title 5, Government Organization and EmployeesRelease 119-110

§7132 Subpenas

Title 5 › PART III — EMPLOYEES › Subpart F — Labor-Management and Employee Relations › CHAPTER 71 — LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS › SUBCHAPTER IV — ADMINISTRATIVE AND OTHER PROVISIONS › § 7132

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Certain officials and employees of the Authority, the General Counsel, the Panel, and Authority-appointed administrative law judges may issue subpoenas anywhere in the United States to make people testify and to get documents or other evidence. They can swear witnesses, take depositions, demand written answers, question witnesses, and accept evidence. A subpoena cannot be used to force the release of internal agency guidance, advice, legal counseling, or training materials, including those shared with the Office of Personnel Management. If someone ignores a subpoena, a U.S. district court where that person lives or was served can order them to appear or hand over evidence. Breaking the court’s order can lead to contempt punishment. Witnesses must be paid the same fees and travel allowances that subpoenaed witnesses receive in U.S. courts.

Full Legal Text

Title 5, §7132

Government Organization and Employees, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Any member of the Authority, the General Counsel, or the Panel, any administrative law judge appointed by the Authority under section 3105 of this title, and any employee of the Authority designated by the Authority may—
(1)issue subpenas requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of documentary or other evidence from any place in the United States; and
(2)administer oaths, take or order the taking of depositions, order responses to written interrogatories, examine witnesses, and receive evidence.
No subpena shall be issued under this section which requires the disclosure of intramanagement guidance, advice, counsel, or training within an agency or between an agency and the Office of Personnel Management.
(b)In the case of contumacy or failure to obey a subpena issued under subsection (a)(1) of this section, the United States district court for the judicial district in which the person to whom the subpena is addressed resides or is served may issue an order requiring such person to appear at any designated place to testify or to produce documentary or other evidence. Any failure to obey the order of the court may be punished by the court as a contempt thereof.
(c)Witnesses (whether appearing voluntarily or under subpena) shall be paid the same fee and mileage allowances which are paid subpenaed witnesses in the courts of the United States.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective 90 days after Oct. 13, 1978, see section 907 of Pub. L. 95–454, set out as an

Effective Date

of 1978 Amendment note under section 1101 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

5 U.S.C. § 7132

Title 5, Government Organization and Employees

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110