US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

5 U.S.C. § 2101

Civil service; armed forces; uniformed services

For the purpose of this title—
(1)
the “civil service” consists of all appointive positions in the executive, judicial, and legislative branches of the Government of the United States, except positions in the uniformed services;
(2)
“armed forces” means the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, and Coast Guard; and
(3)
“uniformed services” means the armed forces, the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service, and the commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Pub. L. 89–55480 Stat. 408Pub. L. 90–83, § 1(4)81 Stat. 196Pub. L. 96–54, § 2(a)(4)93 Stat. 381Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title IX, § 927(a)134 Stat. 3831(, , ; , , ; , , ; , , .)

Historical and Revision Notes

Act1966

The section is supplied to establish basis of reference to employees in this title.

Act1967

79 Stat. 1318This section amends various sections [§§ 2101, 4102, 4109, 5541, 8101] of title 5, United States Code, to reflect 1965 Reorganization Plan No. 2 (), effective , which consolidated the Coast and Geodetic Survey and the Weather Bureau to form a new agency in the Department of Commerce to be known as the Environmental Science Services Administration.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 116–2832021—Par. (2). inserted “Space Force,” after “Marine Corps”.

Pub. L. 96–541979—Par. (3). substituted “National Oceanic and Atmospheric” for “Environmental Science Services”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1979 Amendment

Pub. L. 96–54section 2(b) of Pub. L. 96–54section 305 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as a note under .

Short Title of 1998 Amendment

Pub. L. 105–339, § 1112 Stat. 3182

section 1316a of Title 2section 115 of Title 3section 1354 of Title 31section 4212 of Title 38section 1599c of Title 10section 2302 of this titlesection 601 of Title 28section 106 of Title 49“This Act [enacting sections 3330a to 3330c of this title, , The Congress, , The President, and , Money and Finance, amending sections 2108, 2302, and 3304 of this title and , Veterans’ Benefits, repealing , Armed Forces, enacting provisions set out as notes under and , Judiciary and Judicial Procedure, and amending provisions set out as a note under , Transportation] may be cited as the ‘Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 1994 Amendment

Pub. L. 103–226, § 1108 Stat. 111

section 1206 of Title 45section 403–4 of Title 50“This Act [amending sections 3381, 4101, 4103, 4105, 4107, 4108, 4113, 4118, 5597, 8351, 8433 to 8435, 8437, 8440a to 8440d of this title and , Railroads, repealing sections 4106 and 4114 of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 3101, 3381, 5597, 8331, and 8351 of this title, and amending provisions set out as a note under , War and National Defense] may be cited as the ‘Federal Workforce Restructuring Act of 1994’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 1990 Amendment

Pub. L. 101–508, title VII, § 7202(a)104 Stat. 1388–335

section 2105 of this title“This section [amending sections 2105, 3502, 5334, 5335, 5365, 5551, 6308, 6312, 8331, 8347, 8401, 8461, and 8901 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under ] may be cited as the ‘Portability of Benefits for Nonappropriated Fund Employees Act of 1990’.”
, , , provided that:

Transfer of Functions

section 542 of Title 6For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 468(b), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of , as modified, set out as a note under .

Pub. L. 101–508Section 909 of Title 2Coordination of Title VII of With

Pub. L. 101–508, title VII, § 7301104 Stat. 1388–341

Pub. L. 100–119section 909 of Title 2“For purposes of section 202 of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Reaffirmation Act of 1987 [probably means section 202 of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Reaffirmation Act of 1987, , which was formerly classified to , The Congress], this title and the amendments made by this title [amending sections 552a, 2105, 3502, 5334, 5335, 5365, 5551, 6308, 6312, 8331, 8334, 8339, 8342, 8343a, 8347, 8348, 8401, 8420a, 8461, 8901, 8902, 8904, 8906, 8909, and 8910 of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and sections 552a, 2105, 8334, 8343a, 8348, 8902, 8904, and 8906 of this title, amending provisions set out as notes under sections 8343a and 8906 of this title, and repealing provisions set out as notes under sections 8343a and 8348 of this title] shall be considered an exception under subsection (b) of such section.”
, , , provided that: