---
kind: "section"
citation: "5 C.F.R. § 731.303"
title: "5"
number: "731.303"
heading: "Answer."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/5/731.303"
---

# §731.303. Answer.

- (a) **Respondent's answer.** A respondent may answer the charges in writing and furnish documentation and/or affidavits in support of the answer. To be timely, a written answer must be submitted no more than 30 days after the date of the notice of proposed action.
- (b) **Agency's answer.** An employing agency may also answer the notice of proposed action. The time limit for filing such an answer is 30 days from the date of the notice. In reaching a decision, OPM will consider any answer the agency makes.

## Notes

### Authority

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 1302, 2301, 2302, 3301, 7301. E.O. 10577, 19 FR 7521, 3 CFR, 1954-1958 Comp., p. 218, as amended. E.O. 13467, 73 FR 38103, 3 CFR, 2009 Comp., p. 198, as amended. E.O. 13488, 74 FR 4111, 3 CFR, 2010 Comp., p. 189, as amended. E.O. 13764, 82 FR 8115, 3 CFR, 2017 Comp., p. 243. E.O. 14210, 90 FR 9669. Presidential Memorandum of January 31, 2014, 3 CFR, 2014 Comp., p. 340. Presidential Memorandum of March 20, 2025, 90 FR 13683. 5 CFR parts 1, 2, 5, and 6. Link to an amendment published at 91 FR 49065, Aug. 3, 2026.

### Source

Source: 73 FR 20154, Apr. 15, 2008, unless otherwise noted.