42 USC § 7237 - Priority placement, job placement, retraining, and counseling programs for United States Department of Energy employees affected by reduction in force

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t42/s7237"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "42 USC § 7237 - Priority placement, job placement, retraining, and counseling programs for United States Department of Energy employees affected by reduction in force"
title_number: 42
title_name: "THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE"
section_number: "7237"
section_name: "Priority placement, job placement, retraining, and counseling programs for United States Department of Energy employees affected by reduction in force"
chapter_number: 84
chapter_name: "DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY"
subchapter_number: "VI"
subchapter_name: "ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS"
part_number: "B"
part_name: "Personnel Provisions"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 104–206, title III, § 301, Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 2999.)"
---


# § 7237. Priority placement, job placement, retraining, and counseling programs for United States Department of Energy employees affected by reduction in force

**(a)** **Definitions**

**(1)** For the purposes of this section, the term “agency” means the United States Department of Energy.

**(2)** For the purposes of this section, the term “eligible employee” means any employee of the agency who—

**(A)** is scheduled to be separated from service due to a reduction in force under—

**(i)** regulations prescribed under section 3502 of title 5; or

**(ii)** procedures established under section 3595 of title 5; or

**(B)** is separated from service due to such a reduction in force, but does not include—

**(i)** an employee separated from service for cause on charges of misconduct or delinquency; or

**(ii)** an employee who, at the time of separation, meets the age and service requirements for an immediate annuity under subchapter III of chapter 83 or chapter 84 of title 5.

**(b)** **Priority placement and retraining program** September 30, 1996

Not later than 30 days after , the United States Department of Energy shall establish an agency-wide priority placement and retraining program for eligible employees.

**(c)** **Filling vacancy from outside agency** The priority placement program established under subsection (b) shall include provisions under which a vacant position shall not be filled by the appointment or transfer of any individual from outside of the agency if—

**(1)** there is then available any eligible employee who applies for the position within 30 days of the agency issuing a job announcement and is qualified (or can be trained or retrained to become qualified within 90 days of assuming the position) for the position; and

**(2)** the position is within the same commuting area as the eligible employee’s last-held position or residence.

**(d)** **Job placement and counseling services** The head of the agency may establish a program to provide job placement and counseling services to eligible employees. A program established under subsection (d) may include, but is not limited to, such services as—

**(1)** career and personal counseling;

**(2)** training and job search skills; and

**(3)** job placement assistance, including assistance provided through cooperative arrangements with State and local employment services offices.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 104–206, title III, § 301, Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 2999.)

## Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, 1997, and not as part of the Department of Energy Organization Act which comprises this chapter.