---
kind: "section"
citation: "31 U.S.C. § 6718"
title: "31"
title_heading: "Money and Finance"
number: "6718"
heading: "Investigations and reviews"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/31/6718"
units:
  - "Subtitle V — General Assistance Administration"
  - "Chapter 67 — Federal Payments"
---

# §6718. Investigations and reviews

- (a) **Investigations by Secretary.—**
  - (1) **In general.—** The [Secretary](/usc/31/6401.md?p=6) shall within a reasonable time limit—
    - (A) carry out an investigation and make a finding after receiving a complaint referred to in [section 6716(b)](/usc/31/6716.md?p=b), a determination by a [State](/usc/31/6201.md?p=2) or local administrative [agency](/usc/31/6401.md?p=1), or other information about a possible violation of this chapter;
    - (B) carry out audits and reviews (including investigations of allegations) about possible violations of this chapter; and
    - (C) advise a complainant of the status of an audit, investigation, or review of an allegation by the complainant of a violation of [section 6711(a)](/usc/31/6711.md?p=a) or (b) or other provision of this chapter.
  - (2) **Time limit.—** The maximum time limit under [paragraph (1)(A)](#a-1-A) is 120 days.
- (b) **Reviews by Comptroller General.—** The [Comptroller General](/usc/31/7501.md?p=a-1) of the United States may carry out reviews of the activities of the [Secretary](/usc/31/6401.md?p=6), [State](/usc/31/6201.md?p=2) governments, and units of general [local government](/usc/31/6302.md?p=3) necessary for the Congress to evaluate compliance and operations under this chapter. These reviews may include a comparison of the waste and inefficiency of [local governments](/usc/31/6302.md?p=3) using funds under this chapter compared to waste and inefficiency with other comparable [Federal programs](/usc/31/7501.md?p=a-6).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 103–322, title III, § 31001(a), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 1879; amended Pub. L. 104–316, title I, § 115(k), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3835.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 6718, Pub. L. 97–258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1026; Pub. L. 98–185, § 9(i), Nov. 30, 1983, 97 Stat. 1312, related to suspension and termination of payments in discrimination proceedings, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 99–272, title XIV, § 14001(a)(1), (e), Apr. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 327, 329, eff. Oct. 18, 1986.

### Amendments

1996—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–316 substituted “may” for “shall” before “carry” and “include”.