5 USC § 503 - Witness fees and allowances

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t5/s503"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "5 USC § 503 - Witness fees and allowances"
title_number: 5
title_name: "GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES"
section_number: "503"
section_name: "Witness fees and allowances"
chapter_number: 5
chapter_name: "ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE"
subchapter_number: "I"
subchapter_name: "GENERAL PROVISIONS"
part_number: "I"
part_name: "THE AGENCIES GENERALLY"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 381.)"
---


# § 503. Witness fees and allowances

**(a)** For the purpose of this section, “agency” has the meaning given it by section 5721 of this title.

**(b)** A witness is entitled to the fees and allowances allowed by statute for witnesses in the courts of the United States when—

**(1)** he is subpenaed under section 304(a) of this title; or

**(2)** he is subpenaed to and appears at a hearing before an agency authorized by law to hold hearings and subpena witnesses to attend the hearings.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 381.)

| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes andStatutes at Large |
| --- | --- | --- |
|  | 5 U.S.C. 95. | R.S. § 185. |
|  | 5 U.S.C. 95a. | Aug. 2, 1946, ch. 744, § 10, 60 Stat. 809. |

Former sections 95 and 95a are combined and restated for clarity and brevity. The words “or expenses in the case of Government officers and employees” are omitted as covered by . The word “agency” is substituted for “department” and defined to conform to the definition of “department” in , .

This section was part of title IV of the Revised Statutes. The , as added ,  (former ), which provides “Except to the extent inconsistent with the provisions of this Act [National Security Act of 1947], the provisions of title IV of the Revised Statutes as now or hereafter amended shall be applicable to the Department of Defense” is omitted from this title but is not repealed.

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