20 CFR § 438.500 - Secretary of Defense.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t20/s438.500"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "20 CFR § 438.500 - Secretary of Defense."
title_number: 20
title_name: "Employees' Benefits"
section_number: "438.500"
section_name: "Secretary of Defense."
chapter_name: "SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION"
part_number: "438"
part_name: "RESTRICTIONS ON LOBBYING"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "5 U.S.C. 301."
regulatory_source: "68 FR 28745, May 27, 2003, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "438"
---


# 438.500 Secretary of Defense.

(a) The Secretary of Defense may exempt, on a case-by-case basis, a covered Federal action from the prohibition whenever the Secretary determines, in writing, that such an exemption is in the national interest. The Secretary shall transmit a copy of each such written exemption to Congress immediately after making such a determination.

(b) The Department of Defense may issue supplemental regulations to implement paragraph (a) of this section.