--- kind: "section" citation: "10 U.S.C. § 4818" title: "10" title_heading: "Armed Forces" number: "4818" heading: "Data collection authority of President" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/4818" units: - "Subtitle A — General Military Law" - "Part V — Acquisition" - "Subpart I — Defense Industrial Base" - "Chapter 382 — Policies and Planning" --- # §4818. Data collection authority of President - (a) **Authority.—** The President shall be entitled, by regulation, subpoena, or otherwise, to obtain such information from, require such reports and the keeping of such [records](/usc/10/801.md?p=14) by, make such inspection of the books, [records](/usc/10/801.md?p=14), and other writings, premises or property of, and take the sworn testimony of, and administer oaths and affirmations to, any [person](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) as may be necessary or appropriate, in the President’s discretion, to the enforcement or the administration of chapters [381](/usc/10/chstA/ptV/sptI/ch381.md) through [385](/usc/10/chstA/ptV/sptI/ch385.md) and [chapter 389](/usc/10/chstA/ptV/sptI/ch389.md) and the regulations issued under such chapters. - (b) **Condition for Use of Authority.—** The President shall issue regulations insuring that the authority of this section will be used only after the scope and purpose of the investigation, inspection, or inquiry to be made have been defined by competent authority and it is assured that no adequate and authoritative data are available from any Federal or other responsible [agency](/usc/10/3451.md?p=3). - (c) **Penalty for Noncompliance.—** Any [person](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) who willfully performs any act prohibited or willfully fails to perform any act required by the provisions of [subsection (a)](#a), or any rule, regulation, or order thereunder, shall be fined under [title 18](/usc/18.md) or imprisoned not more than one year, or both. - (d) **Limitations on Disclosure of Information.—** Information obtained under [subsection (a)](#a) which the President deems confidential or with reference to which a request for confidential treatment is made by the [person](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) furnishing such information shall not be published or disclosed unless the President determines that the withholding thereof is contrary to the interest of the national defense. Any [person](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) who willfully violates this subsection shall be fined under [title 18](/usc/18.md) or imprisoned not more than one year, or both. - (e) **Regulations.—** The President may make such rules, regulations, and orders as he considers necessary or appropriate to carry out the provisions of this section. Any regulation or order under this section may be established in such form and manner, may contain such classification and differentiations, and may provide for such adjustments and reasonable exceptions as in the judgment of the President are necessary or proper to effectuate the purposes of this section, or to prevent circumvention or evasion, or to facilitate enforcement of this section, or any rule, regulation, or order issued under this section. - (f) **Definitions.—** In this section: - (1) The term “[person](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2)” [includes](/usc/10/101.md?p=g-4) an individual, corporation, partnership, association, or any other organized group of [persons](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2), or legal successor or representative of the foregoing, and [includes](/usc/10/101.md?p=g-4) the [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1) or any [agency](/usc/10/3451.md?p=3) thereof, or any other government, or any of its political subdivisions, or any [agency](/usc/10/3451.md?p=3) of any of the foregoing, except that no punishment provided by this section shall apply to the [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1), or to any such government, political subdivision, or government [agency](/usc/10/3451.md?p=3). - (2) The term “national defense” means [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) for [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) and atomic energy production or construction, [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) assistance to any foreign nation, stockpiling, space, and directly related activity. ## Source credit (Added Pub. L. 102–484, div. D, title XLII, § 4217, Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2670, § 2507; amended Pub. L. 103–160, div. A, title XI, § 1182(b)(1), Nov. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 1772; Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title X, § 1056(c)(5), Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3439; renumbered § 4818 and amended Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title XVIII, § 1867(b), (d)(5), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4281, 4282; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title XVII, § 1701(b)(22)(B), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2135.) ## Notes ### Editorial Notes ### Amendments 2021—Pub. L. 116–283, § 1867(b), renumbered section 2507 of this title as this section. Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 116–283, § 1867(d)(5), as amended by Pub. L. 117–81, § 1701(b)(22)(B), substituted “of chapters 381 through 385 and chapter 389” for “of this chapter” and “under such chapters” for “under this chapter”. 2006—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 109–163 substituted “subsection (a)” for “section (a)”. 1993—Pub. L. 103–160 inserted headings in subsecs. (a) to (f). ### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries ### Effective Date of 2021 Amendment Amendment by Pub. L. 117–81 applicable as if included in the enactment of title XVIII of Pub. L. 116–283 as enacted, see section 1701(a)(2) of Pub. L. 117–81, set out in a note preceding section 3001 of this title and note below. Amendment by Pub. L. 116–283 effective Jan. 1, 2022, with additional provisions for delayed implementation and applicability of existing law, see section 1801(d) of Pub. L. 116–283, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title.