7 USC § 2209j - Permanent debarment from participation in Department of Agriculture programs for fraud

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t7/s2209j"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "7 USC § 2209j - Permanent debarment from participation in Department of Agriculture programs for fraud"
title_number: 7
title_name: "AGRICULTURE"
section_number: "2209j"
section_name: "Permanent debarment from participation in Department of Agriculture programs for fraud"
chapter_number: 55
chapter_name: "DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 110–234, title XIV, § 14211, May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1464; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title XIV, § 14211, June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 2226.)"
---


# § 2209j. Permanent debarment from participation in Department of Agriculture programs for fraud

**(a)** **In general** Subject to subsection (b), the Secretary of Agriculture shall permanently debar an individual, organization, corporation, or other entity convicted of a felony for knowingly defrauding the United States in connection with any program administered by the Department of Agriculture from any subsequent participation in Department of Agriculture programs.

**(b)** **Exceptions**

**(1)** **Secretary determination** The Secretary may reduce a debarment under subsection (a) to a period of not less than 10 years if the Secretary considers it appropriate.

**(2)** **Food assistance** A debarment under subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to participation in domestic food assistance programs (as defined by the Secretary).

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 110–234, title XIV, § 14211, May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1464; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title XIV, § 14211, June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 2226.)

## Editorial Notes

### Codification

and  enacted identical sections.  was repealed by .

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Enactment of this section and repeal of  by  effective , the date of enactment of , see , set out as a note under .