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

# §1234e. Cease and desist orders

- (a) **Issuance and contents of complaint—** In accordance with [section 1234c of this title](/usc/20/1234c.md), the [Secretary](/usc/20/1221.md?p=c-4) may issue to a [recipient](/usc/20/1234i.md?p=1) under an [applicable program](/usc/20/1234i.md?p=2) a complaint which—
  - (1) describes the factual and legal basis for the [Secretary](/usc/20/1221.md?p=c-4)’s belief that the [recipient](/usc/20/1234i.md?p=1) is failing to comply substantially with a requirement of law; and
  - (2) contains a notice of a hearing to be held before the Office on a date at least 30 days after the service of the complaint.
- (b) **Appearance contesting order—** The [recipient](/usc/20/1234i.md?p=1) upon which a complaint has been served shall have the right to appear before the Office on the date specified and to show cause why an order should not be entered by the Office requiring the [recipient](/usc/20/1234i.md?p=1) to cease and desist from the violation of law charged in the complaint.
- (c) **Report; issuance of cease and desist order—** The testimony in any hearing held under this section shall be reduced to writing and filed with the Office. If upon that hearing the Office is of the opinion that the [recipient](/usc/20/1234i.md?p=1) is in violation of any requirement of law as charged in the complaint, the Office shall—
  - (1) make a report in writing stating its findings of fact; and
  - (2) issue to the [recipient](/usc/20/1234i.md?p=1) an order requiring the [recipient](/usc/20/1234i.md?p=1) to cease and desist from the practice, policy, or procedure which resulted in the violation.
- (d) **Report and order as final agency action—** The report and order of the Office under this section shall become the final agency action when the [recipient](/usc/20/1234i.md?p=1) receives the report and order.
- (e) **Enforcement of final order—** The [Secretary](/usc/20/1221.md?p=c-4) may enforce a final order of the Office under this section which becomes final agency action by—
  - (1) withholding from the [recipient](/usc/20/1234i.md?p=1) any portion of the amount payable to it, including the amount payable for administrative costs, under the [applicable program](/usc/20/1234i.md?p=2); or
  - (2) certifying the facts to the Attorney General who shall cause an appropriate proceeding to be brought for the enforcement of the order.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 90–247, title IV, § 456, as added Pub. L. 95–561, title XII, § 1232, Nov. 1, 1978, 92 Stat. 2351; amended Pub. L. 100–297, title III, § 3501(a), Apr. 28, 1988, 102 Stat. 355.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1988—Pub. L. 100–297 amended section generally, substituting provisions relating to cease and desist orders for provisions relating to use of recovered funds. See section 1234h 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.