---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 8617"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "8617"
heading: "National Museum of the United States Navy"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/8617"
units:
  - "Subtitle C — Navy and Marine Corps"
  - "Part IV — General Administration"
  - "Chapter 861 — Secretary of the Navy: Miscellaneous Powers and Duties"
---

# §8617. National Museum of the United States Navy

- (a) **Authority to Support Development and Operation of Museum.—**
  - (1) The [Secretary](/usc/10/8720.md?p=4) of the [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1) may select and enter into a contract, cooperative agreement, or other agreement with one or more eligible nonprofit organizations to support the development, design, construction, renovation, or operation of a multipurpose museum to serve as the National Museum of the [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1) [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1).
  - (2) The [Secretary](/usc/10/8720.md?p=4) may—
    - (A) authorize a partner organization to contract for each phase of development, design, construction, renovation, or operation of the museum, or all such phases; or
    - (B) authorize acceptance of funds from a partner organization for each or all such phases.
- (b) **Purposes of Museum.—**
  - (1) The museum shall be used for the identification, curation, storage, and public viewing of artifacts and artwork of significance to the [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1), as agreed to by the [Secretary](/usc/10/8720.md?p=4) of the [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1).
  - (2) The museum also may be used to support such education, training, research, and associated activities as the [Secretary](/usc/10/8720.md?p=4) considers compatible with and in support of the museum and the mission of the Naval History and Heritage Command.
- (c) **Acceptance Upon Completion.—** Upon the satisfactory completion, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/10/8720.md?p=4) of the [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1), of any phase of the museum, and upon the satisfaction of any financial obligations incident thereto, the [Secretary](/usc/10/8720.md?p=4) shall accept such phase of the museum from the partner organization, and all right, title, and interest in and to such phase of the museum shall vest in the [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1). Upon becoming the property of the [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1), the [Secretary](/usc/10/8720.md?p=4) shall assume administrative jurisdiction over such phase of the museum.
- (d) **Lease Authority.—**
  - (1) The [Secretary](/usc/10/8720.md?p=4) of the [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1) may lease portions of the museum to an eligible nonprofit organization for use in generating revenue for the support of activities of the museum and for such administrative purposes as may be necessary for support of the museum. Such a lease may not include any part of the collection of the museum.
  - (2) Any rent received by the [Secretary](/usc/10/8720.md?p=4) under a lease under [paragraph (1)](#d-1), including rent-in-kind, shall be used solely to cover or defray the costs of development, maintenance, or operation of the museum.
- (e) **Authority to Accept Gifts.—**
  - (1) The [Secretary](/usc/10/8720.md?p=4) of the [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1) may accept, hold, administer, and spend any gift, devise, or bequest of real property, personal property, or money made on the condition that the gift, devise, or bequest be used for the benefit, or in connection with, the establishment, operation, or maintenance, of the museum. [Section 2601](/usc/10/2601.md) (other than subsections [(b)](#b), [(c)](#c), and [(e)](#e)) of this title shall apply to gifts accepted under this subsection.
  - (2) The [Secretary](/usc/10/8720.md?p=4) may display at the museum recognition for an individual or organization that contributes money to a partner organization, or an individual or organization that contributes a gift directly to the [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1), for the benefit of the museum, whether or not the contribution is subject to the condition that the recognition be provided. The [Secretary](/usc/10/8720.md?p=4) shall prescribe regulations governing the circumstances under which contributor recognition may be provided, appropriate forms of recognition, and suitable display standards.
  - (3) The [Secretary](/usc/10/8720.md?p=4) may authorize the sale of donated property received under [paragraph (1)](#e-1). A sale under this paragraph need not be conducted in accordance with disposal requirements that would otherwise apply, so long as the sale is conducted at arms-length and [includes](/usc/10/101.md?p=g-4) an auditable transaction record.
  - (4) Any money received under [paragraph (1)](#e-1) and any proceeds from the sale of property under [paragraph (3)](#e-3) shall be deposited into a fund established in the Treasury to support the museum.
- (f) **Additional Terms and Conditions.—** The [Secretary](/usc/10/8720.md?p=4) of the [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1) may require such additional terms and conditions in connection with a contract, cooperative agreement, or other agreement under [subsection (a)](#a) or a lease under [subsection (d)](#d) as the [Secretary](/usc/10/8720.md?p=4) considers appropriate to protect the interests of the [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1).
- (g) **Use of Navy Indicators.—**
  - (1) In a contract, cooperative agreement, or other agreement under [subsection (a)](#a) or a lease under [subsection (d)](#d), the [Secretary](/usc/10/8720.md?p=4) of the [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1) may authorize, consistent with [section 2260](/usc/10/2260.md) (other than [subsection (d)](#d)) of this title, a partner organization to enter into licensing, marketing, and sponsorship agreements relating to [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1) indicators, including the manufacture and sale of merchandise for sale by the museum, subject to the approval of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of the [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1).
  - (2) No such licensing, marketing, or sponsorship agreement may be entered into if it would reflect unfavorably on the ability of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of the [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1), any of its employees, or any member of the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4) to carry out any responsibility or duty in a fair and objective manner, or if the [Secretary](/usc/10/8720.md?p=4) determines that the use of the [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1) indicator would compromise the integrity or appearance of integrity of any program of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of the [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1).
- (h) **Definitions.—** In this section:
  - (1) The term “eligible nonprofit organization” means an entity that—
    - (A) qualifies as an exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and
    - (B) has as its primary purpose the preservation and promotion of the history and heritage of the [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1).
  - (2) The term “museum” means the National Museum of the [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1) [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1), including its facilities and grounds.
  - (3) The term “[Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1) indicator” [includes](/usc/10/101.md?p=g-4) trademarks and service marks, names, identities, abbreviations, official insignia, seals, emblems, and acronyms of the [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1) and [Marine Corps](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-2), including underlying units, and specifically [includes](/usc/10/101.md?p=g-4) the term “National Museum of the [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1) [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1)”.
  - (4) The term “partner organization” means an eligible nonprofit organization with whom the [Secretary](/usc/10/8720.md?p=4) of the [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1) enters into a contract, cooperative agreement, or other agreement under [subsection (a)](#a) or a lease under [subsection (d)](#d).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 117–81, div. B, title XXVIII, § 2821, Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2195.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, referred to in subsec. (h)(1)(A), is classified to section 501(c)(3) of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Lease or License of United States Navy Museum Facilities

Pub. L. 109–163, div. B, title XXVIII, § 2852, Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3530, as amended by Pub. L. 117–81, div. B, title XXVIII, § 2822, Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2197, provided that: Leases and Licenses Authorized.—The Secretary of the Navy may lease or license any portion of the facilities of a United States Navy museum to a foundation established to support that museum for the purpose of permitting the foundation to carry out the following activities: Generation of revenue for that United States Navy museum through the rental of facilities to the public, commercial and non-profit entities, State and local governments, and other Federal agencies. Performance of administrative activities in support of that United States Navy museum. Limitation.—Activities carried out at a facility subject to a lease or license under subsection (a) must be consistent with the operations of the United States Navy museum of which the facility is a part. Consideration.—The amount of consideration paid in a year by a foundation described in subsection (a) to the United States for the lease or license of facilities under subsection (a) may not exceed the actual cost, as determined by the Secretary, of the annual operation and maintenance of the facilities. Deposit and Use of Proceeds.—Consideration paid under subsection (c) shall be deposited into the appropriations account available for the operation and maintenance of the applicable United States Navy museum. The Secretary may use the amounts so deposited to cover costs associated with the operation and maintenance of that museum and its exhibits. Additional Terms and Conditions.—The Secretary may require such additional terms and conditions in connection with a lease or license under subsection (a) as the Secretary considers appropriate to protect the interests of the United States. United States Navy Museum.—In this section, the term ‘United States Navy museum’ means a museum under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Defense and operated through the Naval History and Heritage Command.”