---
kind: "section"
citation: "29 U.S.C. § 440"
title: "29"
title_heading: "Labor"
number: "440"
heading: "Civil action for enforcement by Secretary; jurisdiction"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/29/440"
units:
  - "Chapter 11 — Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Procedure"
  - "Subchapter III — Reporting by Labor Organizations, Officers and Employees of Labor Organizations, and Employers"
---

# §440. Civil action for enforcement by Secretary; jurisdiction


Whenever it shall appear that any [person](/usc/29/402.md?p=d) has violated or is about to violate any of the provisions of this subchapter, the [Secretary](/usc/29/402.md?p=p) may bring a civil action for such relief (including injunctions) as may be appropriate. Any such action may be brought in the [district court of the United States](/usc/29/402.md?p=r) where the violation occurred or, at the option of the parties, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 86–257, title II, § 210, Sept. 14, 1959, 73 Stat. 530.)