---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 9278"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "9278"
heading: "Medal of honor; Air Force cross; distinguished-service cross; distinguished-service medal; silver star: availability of appropriations"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/9278"
units:
  - "Subtitle D — Air Force and Space Force"
  - "Part II — Personnel"
  - "Chapter 937 — Decorations and Awards"
---

# §9278. Medal of honor; Air Force cross; distinguished-service cross; distinguished-service medal; silver star: availability of appropriations


The [Secretary](/usc/10/9511.md?p=10) of the Air Force may spend, from any appropriation for contingent expenses of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of the Air Force, amounts necessary to provide medals and devices under sections [9271](/usc/10/9271.md), [9272](/usc/10/9272.md), [9273](/usc/10/9273.md), [9274](/usc/10/9274.md), [9276](/usc/10/9276.md), [9277](/usc/10/9277.md), and [9282](/usc/10/9282.md) of this title.


## Source credit

(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 541, § 8748; Pub. L. 86–593, § 1(5), July 6, 1960, 74 Stat. 332; renumbered § 9278 and amended Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, §§ 806(b)(11), 809(a), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1833, 1840.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 8748 | 10:1424. | July 9, 1918, ch. 143 (13th par. under “Ordnance Department”), 40 Stat. 871. |

The word “amounts” is substituted for the words “so much as may be”. The word “provides” is substituted for the words “defray the cost of”. The words “medals and devices under” are substituted for the words “medals of honor, distinguished-service crosses, distinguished-service medals, bars, rosettes, and other devices provided for in”. The words “from time to time” are omitted as surplusage.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2018—Pub. L. 115–232 renumbered section 8748 of this title as this section and substituted “sections 9271, 9272, 9273, 9274, 9276, 9277, and 9282” for “sections 8741, 8742, 8743, 8744, 8746, 8747, and 8752”.

1960—Pub. L. 86–593 inserted “Air Force cross” in section catchline.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2018 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 115–232 effective Feb. 1, 2019, with provision for the coordination of amendments and special rule for certain redesignations, see section 800 of Pub. L. 115–232, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title.