---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 20504"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "20504"
heading: "Rights and procedures"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/20504"
units:
  - "Subtitle F — Alternative Military Personnel Systems"
  - "Part I — Space Force"
  - "Chapter 2011 — Separation of Officers for Substandard Performance of Duty or for Certain Other Reasons"
---

# §20504. Rights and procedures

- (a) **In General.—** Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Air Force, each [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) required under [section 20501 of this title](/usc/10/20501.md) to show cause for retention in a [space force active status](/usc/10/101.md?p=e-1)—
  - (1) shall be notified in writing, at least 30 days before the hearing of the [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1)’s case by a retention board, of the reasons for which the [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) is being required to show cause for retention in a [space force active status](/usc/10/101.md?p=e-1);
  - (2) shall be allowed a reasonable time, as determined by the board, to prepare the [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1)’s showing of cause for retention in a [space force active status](/usc/10/101.md?p=e-1);
  - (3) shall be allowed to appear either in person or through electronic means and to be represented by counsel at proceedings before the board; and
  - (4) shall be allowed full access to, and shall be furnished copies of, records relevant to the [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1)’s case, except that the board shall withhold any record that the Secretary determines should be withheld in the interest of national security.
- (b) **Summary of Records Withheld in Interest of National Security.—** When a record is withheld under [subsection (a)(4)](#a-4), the [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) whose case is under consideration shall, to the extent that the interest of national security permits, be furnished a summary of the record so withheld.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title XVII, § 1719, Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 661.)