---
kind: "section"
citation: "40 U.S.C. § 593"
title: "40"
title_heading: "Public Buildings, Property, and Works"
number: "593"
heading: "Protection for veterans preference employees"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/40/593"
units:
  - "Subtitle I — Federal Property and Administrative Services"
  - "Chapter 5 — Property Management"
  - "Subchapter V — Operation of Buildings and Related Activities"
---

# §593. Protection for veterans preference employees

- (a) **Definitions.—** In this section, the following definitions apply:
  - (1) **Covered services.—** The term “covered services” means any guard, elevator operator, messenger, or custodial services.
  - (2) **Sheltered workshop.—** The term “sheltered workshop” means a sheltered workshop employing the severely handicapped under chapter 85 of title 41.
- (b) **In General.—** Except as provided in [subsection (c)](#c), amounts made available to the General Services Administration pursuant to [section 592 of this title](/usc/40/592.md) may not be obligated or expended to procure covered services by contract if an employee who was a permanent veterans preference employee of the Administration on November 19, 1995, would be terminated as a result.
- (c) **Exception.—** Amounts made available to the Administration pursuant to [section 592 of this title](/usc/40/592.md) may be obligated and expended to procure covered services by contract with a sheltered workshop or, if sheltered workshops decline to contract for the provision of covered services, by competitive contract for a period of no longer than 5 years. When a competitive contract expires, or is terminated for any reason, the Administration shall again offer to procure the covered services by contract with a sheltered workshop before procuring the covered services by competitive contract.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 107–217, Aug. 21, 2002, 116 Stat. 1120; Pub. L. 109–284, § 6(6), Sept. 27, 2006, 120 Stat. 1212; Pub. L. 111–350, § 5(l)(11), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3852.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 593 | 40:490c. | Pub. L. 104–52, title V, § 503, Nov. 19, 1995, 109 Stat. 491. |

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2011—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 111–350 substituted “chapter 85 of title 41” for “the Javits-Wagner-O’Day Act (41 U.S.C. 46 et seq.)”.

2006—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 109–284 substituted “available to the General Services Administration” for “available to the Administration”.