---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 4327"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "4327"
heading: "Noncompliance of Federal officials with deadlines; inapplicability of statutes of limitations"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/4327"
units:
  - "Part III — Readjustment and Related Benefits"
  - "Chapter 43 — Employment and Reemployment Rights of Members of the Uniformed Services"
  - "Subchapter III — Procedures for Assistance, Enforcement, and Investigation"
---

# §4327. Noncompliance of Federal officials with deadlines; inapplicability of statutes of limitations

- (a) **Effect of Noncompliance of Federal Officials With Deadlines.—**
  - (1) The inability of the [Secretary](/usc/38/4101.md?p=8), the [Attorney General](/usc/38/4303.md?p=1), or the Special Counsel to comply with a deadline applicable to such official under section [4322](/usc/38/4322.md), [4323](/usc/38/4323.md), or [4324](/usc/38/4324.md) of this title—
    - (A) shall not affect the authority of the [Attorney General](/usc/38/4303.md?p=1) or the Special Counsel to represent and file an action or submit a complaint on behalf of a person under section [4323](/usc/38/4323.md) or [4324](/usc/38/4324.md) of this title;
    - (B) shall not affect the right of a person—
      - (i) to commence an action under [section 4323 of this title](/usc/38/4323.md);
      - (ii) to submit a complaint under [section 4324 of this title](/usc/38/4324.md); or
      - (iii) to obtain any type of assistance or relief authorized by this chapter;
    - (C) shall not deprive a Federal court, the Merit Systems Protection Board, or a [State](/usc/38/4101.md?p=6) court of jurisdiction over an action or complaint filed by the [Attorney General](/usc/38/4303.md?p=1), the Special Counsel, or a person under section [4323](/usc/38/4323.md) or [4324](/usc/38/4324.md) of this title; and
    - (D) shall not constitute a defense, including a statute of limitations period, that any [employer](/usc/38/4303.md?p=4-A) (including a [State](/usc/38/4101.md?p=6), a private [employer](/usc/38/4303.md?p=4-A), or a [Federal executive agency](/usc/38/4303.md?p=5)) or the Office of Personnel Management may raise in an action filed by the [Attorney General](/usc/38/4303.md?p=1), the Special Counsel, or a person under section [4323](/usc/38/4323.md) or [4324](/usc/38/4324.md) of this title.
  - (2) If the [Secretary](/usc/38/4101.md?p=8), the [Attorney General](/usc/38/4303.md?p=1), or the Special Counsel is unable to meet a deadline applicable to such official in section [4322(f)](/usc/38/4322.md?p=f), [4323(a)(1)](/usc/38/4323.md?p=a-1), [4323(a)(2)](/usc/38/4323.md?p=a-2), [4324(a)(1)](/usc/38/4324.md?p=a-1), or [4324(a)(2)(B)](/usc/38/4324.md?p=a-2-B) of this title, and the person agrees to an extension of time, the [Secretary](/usc/38/4101.md?p=8), the [Attorney General](/usc/38/4303.md?p=1), or the Special Counsel, as the case may be, shall complete the required action within the additional period of time agreed to by the person.
- (b) **Inapplicability of Statutes of Limitations.—** If any person seeks to file a complaint or claim with the [Secretary](/usc/38/4101.md?p=8), the Merit Systems Protection Board, or a Federal or [State](/usc/38/4101.md?p=6) court under this chapter alleging a violation of this chapter, there shall be no limit on the period for filing the complaint or claim.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 110–389, title III, § 311(f)(1), Oct. 10, 2008, 122 Stat. 4163.)