---
kind: "section"
citation: "3 U.S.C. § 453"
title: "3"
title_heading: "The President"
number: "453"
heading: "Election of proceeding"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/3/453"
units:
  - "Chapter 5 — Extension of Certain Rights and Protections to Presidential Offices"
  - "Subchapter III — Administrative and Judicial Dispute Resolution Procedures"
---

# §453. Election of proceeding


Not later than 90 days after a [covered employee](/usc/3/401.md?p=a-2) receives notice of the end of the period of mediation, but no sooner than 30 days after receipt of such notification, such [covered employee](/usc/3/401.md?p=a-2) may either—

- (1) file a complaint with the appropriate agency, as determined under [section 454](/usc/3/454.md); or
- (2) file a civil action under [section 1346(g) of title 28](/usc/28/1346.md?p=g).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 104–331, § 2(a), Oct. 26, 1996, 110 Stat. 4067.)