Title 7, AgricultureRelease 119-102
§2231b First Amendment Rights of Employees of the United States Department of Agriculture
Title 7 › CHAPTER 55 — DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE › § 2231b
Summary
Stops the USDA from removing an employee on or after February 15, 1994 for things they said in their own time that oppose Department policies, including policies about homosexuals, unless the employee is first given a hearing (public or private, if they choose). If someone was removed after that date without such a hearing, they must be returned to their job until the hearing happens.
Full Legal Text
Title 7, §2231b
Agriculture, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no employee of the United States Department of Agriculture shall be peremptorily removed, on or after February 15, 1994, from the position of the employee without an opportunity for a public or nonpublic hearing, at the option of the employee, because of remarks made during personal time in opposition to policies, or proposed policies, of the Department, including policies or proposed policies regarding homosexuals. Any employee removed on or after February 15, 1994, without the opportunity for such a hearing shall be reinstated to the position of the employee pending such a hearing.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
7 U.S.C. § 2231b
Title 7, Agriculture
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102