---
kind: "section"
citation: "3 U.S.C. § 456"
title: "3"
title_heading: "The President"
number: "456"
heading: "Confidentiality"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/3/456"
units:
  - "Chapter 5 — Extension of Certain Rights and Protections to Presidential Offices"
  - "Subchapter III — Administrative and Judicial Dispute Resolution Procedures"
---

# §456. Confidentiality

- (a) **Counseling.—** All counseling under [section 452](/usc/3/452.md) shall be strictly confidential, except that, with the consent of the [covered employee](/usc/3/401.md?p=a-2), the [employing office](/usc/3/401.md?p=a-4) may be notified.
- (b) **Mediation.—** All mediation under [section 452](/usc/3/452.md) shall be strictly confidential.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 104–331, § 2(a), Oct. 26, 1996, 110 Stat. 4068.)