Title 7, AgricultureRelease 119-110

§2209j Permanent Debarment From Participation in Department of Agriculture Programs for Fraud

Title 7 › CHAPTER 55 — DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE › § 2209j

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Anyone convicted of a felony for knowingly defrauding the United States in connection with a USDA program must be permanently barred from taking part in USDA programs. The Secretary may shorten that bar to no less than 10 years. The bar does not apply to domestic food assistance programs (as the Secretary defines).

Full Legal Text

Title 7, §2209j

Agriculture, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general
Subject to subsection (b), the Secretary of Agriculture shall permanently debar an individual, organization, corporation, or other entity convicted of a felony for knowingly defrauding the United States in connection with any program administered by the Department of Agriculture from any subsequent participation in Department of Agriculture programs.
(b)Exceptions
(1)Secretary determination
The Secretary may reduce a debarment under subsection (a) to a period of not less than 10 years if the Secretary considers it appropriate.
(2)Food assistance
A debarment under subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to participation in domestic food assistance programs (as defined by the Secretary).

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 enacted identical sections. Pub. L. 110–234 was repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Enactment of this section and repeal of Pub. L. 110–234 by Pub. L. 110–246 effective May 22, 2008, the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–234, see section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as a note under section 8701 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

7 U.S.C. § 2209j

Title 7, Agriculture

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110