US Code

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

5 U.S.C. § 4502

General provisions

(a)
Except as provided by subsection (b) of this section, a cash award under this subchapter may not exceed $10,000.
(b)
When the head of an agency certifies to the Office of Personnel Management that the suggestion, invention, superior accomplishment, or other meritorious effort for which the award is proposed is highly exceptional and unusually outstanding, a cash award in excess of $10,000 but not in excess of $25,000 may be granted with the approval of the Office.
(c)
A cash award under this subchapter is in addition to the regular pay of the recipient. Acceptance of a cash award under this subchapter constitutes an agreement that the use by the Government of an idea, method, or device for which the award is made does not form the basis of a further claim of any nature against the Government by the employee, his heirs, or assigns.
(d)
section 4503 of this titlesection 4504 of this title A cash award to, and expense for the honorary recognition of, an employee may be paid from the fund or appropriation available to the activity primarily benefiting or the various activities benefiting. The head of the agency concerned determines the amount to be paid by each activity for an agency award under . The President determines the amount to be paid by each activity for a Presidential award under .
(e)
The Office of Personnel Management may by regulation permit agencies to grant employees time off from duty, without loss of pay or charge to leave, as an award in recognition of superior accomplishment or other personal effort that contributes to the quality, efficiency, or economy of Government operations.
(f)
The Secretary of Defense may grant a cash award under subsection (b) of this section without regard to the requirements for certification and approval provided in that subsection.

Pub. L. 89–55480 Stat. 442Pub. L. 95–454, title V, § 503(b)92 Stat. 1183Pub. L. 97–35, title XVII, § 1703(b)(2)95 Stat. 756Pub. L. 101–509, title V, § 529 [title II, § 201]104 Stat. 1427Pub. L. 103–89, § 3(b)(1)(D)107 Stat. 981Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [[div. A]114 Stat. 1654(, , ; , (c), , ; , , ; , , , 1455; , , ; , title XI, § 1132], , , 1654A–318.)

Historical and Revision Notes

Derivation

U.S. Code

Revised Statutes and

Statutes at Large

 

5 U.S.C. 2123(d), (e), (g).

Sept. 1, 1954, ch. 1208, § 304(d), (e), (g), 68 Stat. 1113.

In subsections (a) and (b), the words “cash award” are substituted for “monetary award” and “such award” to conform to the remainder of the chapter.

In subsection (c), the word “Government” is substituted for “Government of the United States or the government of the District of Columbia” in view of the definition of “Government” in section 4501.

Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 106–3982000—Subsec. (f). added subsec. (f).

Pub. L. 103–891993—Subsec. (e). struck out par. (2) designation and struck out par. (1) which read as follows: “Notwithstanding section 4501(2), for the purpose of this subsection, ‘employee’ includes an employee covered by the performance management and recognition system established under chapter 54.”

Pub. L. 101–5091990—Subsec. (e). added subsec. (e).

Pub. L. 97–351981—Subsecs. (a), (c). substituted “subchapter” for “chapter”.

Pub. L. 95–454, § 503(b)1978—Subsec. (a). , substituted “$10,000” for “$5,000”.

Pub. L. 95–454, § 503(c)Subsec. (b). , substituted “Office of Personnel Management” for “Civil Service Commission”, “$10,000” for “$5,000”, and “Office” for “Commission”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1993 Amendment

Pub. L. 103–89section 3(c) of Pub. L. 103–89section 3372 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1990 Amendment

Pub. L. 101–509Pub. L. 101–509section 5301 of this titleAmendment by effective on such date as the President shall determine, but not earlier than 90 days, and not later than 180 days, after , see section 529 [title III, § 305] of , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1981 Amendment

Pub. L. 97–35section 1703(c) of Pub. L. 97–35section 4501 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1978 Amendment

Pub. L. 95–454, title V, § 504(a)92 Stat. 1184Pub. L. 95–454, , , provided that amendment by was effective on first day of first applicable pay period which began on or after , except it could take effect with respect to any category or categories of positions before such day to extent prescribed by Director of Office of Personnel Management.

Executive Documents

Delegation of Functions

section 301 of Title 3Functions of President under former section 2123(e) [now subsec. (d)] of this section delegated to Director of Office of Personnel Management, see section 2 of Ex. Ord. No. 11228, , 30 F.R. 7739, set out as a note under , The President.