---
kind: "section"
citation: "5 U.S.C. § 3701"
title: "5"
title_heading: "Government Organization and Employees"
number: "3701"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/5/3701"
units:
  - "Part III — Employees"
  - "Subpart B — Employment and Retention"
  - "Chapter 37 — Information Technology Exchange Program"
---

# §3701. Definitions


For purposes of this chapter—

- (1) the term “[agency](/usc/5/3132.md?p=a-1)” means an [Executive agency](/usc/5/6501.md?p=2), but does not include the [Government](/usc/5/4101.md?p=3) Accountability [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3); and
- (2) the term “detail” means—
  - (A) the assignment or loan of an [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) of an [agency](/usc/5/3132.md?p=a-1) to a private sector organization without a change of [position](/usc/5/5102.md?p=a-3) from the [agency](/usc/5/3132.md?p=a-1) that employs the individual, or
  - (B) the assignment or loan of an [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) of a private sector organization to an [agency](/usc/5/3132.md?p=a-1) without a change of [position](/usc/5/5102.md?p=a-3) from the private sector organization that employs the individual,

  whichever is appropriate in the context in which such term is used.


## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 107–347, title II, § 209(c)(1), Dec. 17, 2002, 116 Stat. 2925; amended Pub. L. 108–271, § 8(b), July 7, 2004, 118 Stat. 814.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2004—Par. (1). Pub. L. 108–271 substituted “Government Accountability Office” for “General Accounting Office”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective 120 days after Dec. 17, 2002, see section 402(a) of Pub. L. 107–347, set out as a note under section 3601 of Title 44, Public Printing and Documents.