28 USC § 514 - Legal services on pending claims in departments and agencies

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t28/s514"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "28 USC § 514 - Legal services on pending claims in departments and agencies"
title_number: 28
title_name: "JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE"
section_number: "514"
section_name: "Legal services on pending claims in departments and agencies"
chapter_number: 31
chapter_name: "THE ATTORNEY GENERAL"
part_number: "II"
part_name: "DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 89–554, § 4(c), Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 613.)"
---


# § 514. Legal services on pending claims in departments and agencies

When the head of an executive department or agency is of the opinion that the interests of the United States require the service of counsel on the examination of any witness concerning any claim, or on the legal investigation of any claim, pending in the department or agency, he shall notify the Attorney General, giving all facts necessary to enable him to furnish proper professional service in attending the examination or making the investigation, and the Attorney General shall provide for the service.

---

**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 89–554, § 4(c), Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 613.)

| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes andStatutes at Large |
| --- | --- | --- |
|  | 5 U.S.C. 48. | R.S. § 187. |
|  | 5 U.S.C. 313. | R.S. § 364. |

Sections 187 and 364 of the Revised Statutes are combined into one section since they both deal with the same subject matter and are derived from the , .

The words “executive department” are substituted for “Department” because “Department”, as used in R.S. §§ 187 and 364, meant “executive department”. (See R.S. § 159.) The word “agency” is substituted for “bureau” as it has a more common current acceptance. The word “concerning” is substituted for “touching”. Reference to application for a subpena is omitted as R.S. § 364 gives the department head the same authority to request aid from the Attorney General whether or not application has been made for a subpena.

Section 187 of the Revised Statutes 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.

Minor changes are made in phraseology to allow for the combining of the two sections.