---
kind: "section"
citation: "20 U.S.C. § 1234c"
title: "20"
title_heading: "Education"
number: "1234c"
heading: "Remedies for existing violations"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/20/1234c"
units:
  - "Chapter 31 — General Provisions Concerning Education"
  - "Subchapter IV — Enforcement"
---

# §1234c. Remedies for existing violations

- (a) Whenever the [Secretary](/usc/20/1221.md?p=c-4) has reason to believe that any [recipient](/usc/20/1234i.md?p=1) of funds under any [applicable program](/usc/20/1234i.md?p=2) is failing to comply substantially with any requirement of law applicable to such funds, the [Secretary](/usc/20/1221.md?p=c-4) may—
  - (1) withhold further payments under that program, as authorized by [section 1234d of this title](/usc/20/1234d.md);
  - (2) issue a complaint to compel compliance through a cease and desist order of the Office, as authorized by [section 1234e of this title](/usc/20/1234e.md);
  - (3) enter into a compliance agreement with a [recipient](/usc/20/1234i.md?p=1) to bring it into compliance, as authorized by [section 1234f of this title](/usc/20/1234f.md); or
  - (4) take any other action authorized by law with respect to the [recipient](/usc/20/1234i.md?p=1).
- (b) Any action, or failure to take action, by the [Secretary](/usc/20/1221.md?p=c-4) under this section shall not preclude the [Secretary](/usc/20/1221.md?p=c-4) from seeking a recovery of funds under [section 1234a of this title](/usc/20/1234a.md).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 90–247, title IV, § 454, as added Pub. L. 95–561, title XII, § 1232, Nov. 1, 1978, 92 Stat. 2349; amended Pub. L. 100–297, title III, § 3501(a), Apr. 28, 1988, 102 Stat. 354.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1988—Pub. L. 100–297 amended section generally, substituting provisions relating to remedies for existing violations for provisions relating to cease and desist orders. See section 1234e of this title.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1988 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 100–297 effective 180 days after Apr. 28, 1988, but not applicable to recipients receiving written notice to return funds prior to that date, see section 3501(b) of Pub. L. 100–297, set out as a note under section 1234 of this title.