5 USC § 7541 - Definitions

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t5/s7541"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "5 USC § 7541 - Definitions"
title_number: 5
title_name: "GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES"
section_number: "7541"
section_name: "Definitions"
chapter_number: 75
chapter_name: "ADVERSE ACTIONS"
subchapter_number: "V"
subchapter_name: "SENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICE"
part_number: "III"
part_name: "EMPLOYEES"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 95–454, title IV, § 411(2), Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1174; amended Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title XI, § 1105(c)(5), Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 1024; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title XI, § 1106(b)(2)(E), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 1950.)"
---


# § 7541. Definitions

For the purpose of this subchapter—

**(1)** “employee” means a career appointee in the Senior Executive Service who—

**(A)** has completed the probationary period prescribed under section 3393(d) of this title; or

**(B)** was covered by the provisions of subchapter II of this chapter immediately before appointment to the Senior Executive Service; and

**(2)** “suspension” has the meaning set forth in section 7501(2) of this title.

---

**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 95–454, title IV, § 411(2), Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1174; amended Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title XI, § 1105(c)(5), Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 1024; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title XI, § 1106(b)(2)(E), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 1950.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2021—Par. (1)(A).  struck out “or ” after “”.

2015—Par. (1)(A).  inserted “or ” after “this title”.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2021 Amendment

Amendment by  applied as if effective , to correspond to the effective date of the repeal of , Armed Forces, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. See Effective Date of Repeal note under .

### Effective Date

Section effective 9 months after , and congressional review of provisions of sections 401 through 412 of , see , set out as a note under .