---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 2605"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "2605"
heading: "Acceptance of gifts for defense dependents’ schools"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/2605"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part IV — Service, Supply, and Property"
  - "Chapter 155 — Acceptance of Gifts and Services"
---

# §2605. Acceptance of gifts for defense dependents’ schools

- (a) The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense may accept, hold, administer, and spend any gift (including any gift of an interest in real property) made on the condition that it be used in connection with the operation or administration of a defense [dependents](/usc/10/1072.md?p=2)’ school. The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) may [pay](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-15) all necessary expenses in connection with the acceptance of a gift under this subsection.
- (b) There is established in the Treasury a fund to be known as the “[Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense [Dependents](/usc/10/1072.md?p=2)’ Education Gift Fund”. Gifts of money, and the proceeds of the sale of property, received under [subsection (a)](#a) shall be deposited in the fund. The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) may disburse funds deposited under this subsection for the benefit or use of defense [dependents](/usc/10/1072.md?p=2)’ schools, subject to the terms of the gift.
- (c) Subsection (c) of [section 2601 of this title](/usc/10/2601.md) applies to property that is accepted under [subsection (a)](#a) in the same manner that such subsection applies to property that is accepted under [subsection (a)](/usc/10/2601.md?p=a) of that section.
- (d)
  - (1) Upon request of the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense, the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of the Treasury may—
    - (A) retain money, securities, and the proceeds of the sale of securities, in the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense [Dependents](/usc/10/1072.md?p=2)’ Education Gift Fund; and
    - (B) invest money and reinvest the proceeds of the sale of securities in that fund in securities of the [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1) or in securities guaranteed as to principal and interest by the [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1).
  - (2) The interest and profits accruing from those securities shall be deposited to the credit of the fund and may be disbursed as provided in [subsection (b)](#b).
- (e) In this section, the term “gift” [includes](/usc/10/101.md?p=g-4) a devise of real property or a bequest of personal property.
- (f) The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section.
- (g) In this section, the term “defense [dependents](/usc/10/1072.md?p=2)’ school” means the following:
  - (1) A school established as part of the defense [dependents](/usc/10/1072.md?p=2)’ education system provided for under the Defense [Dependents](/usc/10/1072.md?p=2)’ Education Act of 1978 ([20 U.S.C. 921](/usc/20/921.md) et seq.).
  - (2) An elementary or secondary school established pursuant to [section 2164 of this title](/usc/10/2164.md).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 99–661, div. A, title III, § 314(a), Nov. 14, 1986, 100 Stat. 3853; amended Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title III, § 353(a)–(c)(1), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2731.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Defense Dependents’ Education Act of 1978, referred to in subsec. (g)(1), is title XIV of Pub. L. 95–561, Nov. 1, 1978, 92 Stat. 2365, as amended, which is classified principally to chapter 25A (§ 921 et seq.) of Title 20, Education. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 921 of Title 20 and Tables.

### Amendments

1994—Pub. L. 103–337, § 353(c)(1), substituted “schools” for “education system” in section catchline.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–337, § 353(a)(1), substituted “a defense dependents’ school” for “the defense dependents’ education system provided for under the Defense Dependents’ Education Act of 1978 (20 U.S.C. 921 et seq.)”.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–337, § 353(a)(2), substituted “defense dependents’ schools” for “the defense dependent’s education system”.

Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 103–337, § 353(b), added subsec. (g).