28 CFR § 18.9 - Final agency decision.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t28/s18.9"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "28 CFR § 18.9 - Final agency decision."
title_number: 28
title_name: "Judicial Administration"
section_number: "18.9"
section_name: "Final agency decision."
chapter_name: "DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE"
part_number: "18"
part_name: "OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS HEARING AND APPEAL PROCEDURES"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "Secs. 802-804 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, 42 U.S.C. 3701,  as amended (Pub. L. 90-351, as amended by Pub. L. 93-83, Pub. L. 93-415, Pub. L. 94-430, Pub. L. 94-503, Pub. L. 95-115, Pub. L. 96-157, and Pub. L. 98-473)."
regulatory_source: "50 FR 28199, July 11, 1985, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "18"
---


# 18.9 Final agency decision.

(a) In hearings conducted under § 18.6, the responsible agency official shall make the final agency decision, on the basis of the record, findings, conclusions, and recommendations presented by the hearing examiner.

(b) Prior to making a final decision, the responsible agency official shall give the parties an opportunity to submit the following, within thirty (30) days after the submission of the hearing officer's recommendations:

(1) Proposed findings and determinations;

(2) Exceptions to the recommendations of the hearing officer; and

(3) Supporting reasons for the exceptions or proposed findings or determinations; and

(4) Final briefs summarizing the arguments presented at the hearing.

(c) All determinations, findings and conclusions made by the responsible agency official shall be final and conclusive upon the responsible agency and all appellants.