---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 2644"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "2644"
heading: "Control of transportation systems in time of war"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/2644"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part IV — Service, Supply, and Property"
  - "Chapter 157 — Transportation"
---

# §2644. Control of transportation systems in time of war


In time of war, the President, through the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense, may take possession and assume control of all or part of any system of transportation to transport troops, war material, and equipment, or for other purposes related to the emergency. So far as necessary, he may use the system to the exclusion of other traffic.


## Source credit

(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 266, § 4742; renumbered § 2644 and amended Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title IX, § 906(a), (b), Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2620.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 4742 | 10:1361. | Aug. 29, 1916, ch. 418 (last par. under “Ordnance Department”), 39 Stat. 645. |

The words “as may be needful or desirable” are omitted as surplusage.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1996—Pub. L. 104–201 renumbered section 4742 of this title as this section and substituted “Secretary of Defense” for “Secretary of the Army”.