---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 10721"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "10721"
heading: "Government traffic"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/10721"
units:
  - "Subtitle IV — Interstate Transportation"
  - "Part A — Rail"
  - "Chapter 107 — Rates"
  - "Subchapter II — Special Circumstances"
---

# §10721. Government traffic


A [rail carrier](/usc/49/10102.md?p=5) providing [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) or service for the [United States](/usc/49/10102.md?p=10) Government may transport property or individuals for the [United States](/usc/49/10102.md?p=10) Government without charge or at a [rate](/usc/49/10102.md?p=7) reduced from the applicable commercial [rate](/usc/49/10102.md?p=7). [Section 6101(b)](/usc/49/6101.md) to (d) of [title 41](/usc/41.md) does not apply when [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) for the [United States](/usc/49/10102.md?p=10) Government can be obtained from a [rail carrier](/usc/49/10102.md?p=5) lawfully operating in the area where the [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) would be provided.


## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 104–88, title I, § 102(a), Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 819; amended Pub. L. 111–350, § 5(o)(4), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3853.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 10721, Pub. L. 95–473, Oct. 17, 1978, 92 Stat. 1383; Pub. L. 96–454, § 10(b), Oct. 15, 1980, 94 Stat. 2022; Pub. L. 103–272, § 5(m)(22), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1378, related to Government traffic, prior to the general amendment of this subtitle by Pub. L. 104–88, § 102(a). See sections 10721, 13712, and 15504 of this title.

### Amendments

2011—Pub. L. 111–350 substituted “Section 6101(b) to (d) of title 41” for “Section 3709 of the Revised Statutes (41 U.S.C. 5)”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective Jan. 1, 1996, except as otherwise provided in Pub. L. 104–88, see section 2 of Pub. L. 104–88, set out as a note under section 1301 of this title.