34 CFR § 668.121 - Final decision of the Department.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t34/s668.121"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "34 CFR § 668.121 - Final decision of the Department."
title_number: 34
title_name: "Education"
section_number: "668.121"
section_name: "Final decision of the Department."
chapter_name: "OFFICE OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION"
part_number: "668"
part_name: "STUDENT ASSISTANCE GENERAL PROVISIONS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "20 U.S.C. 1001-1003, 1070g, 1085, 1088, 1091, 1092, 1094, 1099c, 1099c-1, 1221e-3, and 1231a, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "668"
---


# 668.121 Final decision of the Department.

(a) In the event that the initial decision of the hearing official is appealed, the decision of the Secretary is the final decision of the Department, unless the hearing official's decision is remanded by the Secretary.

(b) In the event that the initial decision of the hearing official is not appealed within the time limit specified in § 668.119(a), the initial decision automatically becomes the final decision of the Department.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1094)

[52 FR 30115, Aug. 12, 1987; 52 FR 46354, Dec. 7, 1987, as amended at 57 FR 47753, Oct. 19, 1992]