---
kind: "section"
citation: "5 U.S.C. § 573"
title: "5"
title_heading: "Government Organization and Employees"
number: "573"
heading: "Neutrals"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/5/573"
units:
  - "Part I — The Agencies Generally"
  - "Chapter 5 — Administrative Procedure"
  - "Subchapter IV — Alternative Means of Dispute Resolution in the Administrative Process"
---

# §573. Neutrals

- (a) A [neutral](/usc/5/571.md?p=9) may be a permanent or temporary officer or employee of the Federal Government or any other individual who is acceptable to the [parties](/usc/5/571.md?p=10) to a [dispute resolution proceeding](/usc/5/571.md?p=6). A [neutral](/usc/5/571.md?p=9) shall have no official, financial, or personal conflict of interest with respect to the issues in controversy, unless such interest is fully disclosed in writing to all [parties](/usc/5/571.md?p=10) and all [parties](/usc/5/571.md?p=10) agree that the [neutral](/usc/5/571.md?p=9) may serve.
- (b) A [neutral](/usc/5/571.md?p=9) who serves as a conciliator, fa­cilitator, or mediator serves at the will of the [parties](/usc/5/571.md?p=10).
- (c) The President shall designate an [agency](/usc/5/601.md?p=1) or designate or establish an interagency committee to facilitate and encourage [agency](/usc/5/601.md?p=1) use of dispute resolution under this subchapter. Such [agency](/usc/5/601.md?p=1) or interagency committee, in consultation with other appropriate [Federal agencies](/usc/5/401.md?p=2) and professional organizations experienced in matters concerning dispute resolution, shall—
  - (1) encourage and facilitate [agency](/usc/5/601.md?p=1) use of [alternative means of dispute resolution](/usc/5/571.md?p=3); and
  - (2) develop procedures that permit [agencies](/usc/5/601.md?p=1) to obtain the services of [neutrals](/usc/5/571.md?p=9) on an expedited basis.
- (d) An [agency](/usc/5/601.md?p=1) may use the services of one or more employees of other [agencies](/usc/5/601.md?p=1) to serve as [neutrals](/usc/5/571.md?p=9) in [dispute resolution proceedings](/usc/5/571.md?p=6). The [agencies](/usc/5/601.md?p=1) may enter into an interagency agreement that provides for the reimbursement by the user [agency](/usc/5/601.md?p=1) or the [parties](/usc/5/571.md?p=10) of the full or partial cost of the services of such an employee.
- (e) Any [agency](/usc/5/601.md?p=1) may enter into a contract with any person for services as a [neutral](/usc/5/571.md?p=9), or for training in connection with [alternative means of dispute resolution](/usc/5/571.md?p=3). The [parties](/usc/5/571.md?p=10) in a [dispute resolution proceeding](/usc/5/571.md?p=6) shall agree on compensation for the [neutral](/usc/5/571.md?p=9) that is fair and reasonable to the Government.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 101–552, § 4(b), Nov. 15, 1990, 104 Stat. 2739, § 583; renumbered § 573, Pub. L. 102–354, § 3(b)(2), Aug. 26, 1992, 106 Stat. 944; amended Pub. L. 104–320, § 7(b), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3872.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section 573 of former Title 5, Executive Departments and Government Officers and Employees, was transferred to section 2258 of Title 7, Agriculture.

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 573 was renumbered section 593 of this title.

### Amendments

1996—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 104–320, § 7(b)(1), added subsec. (c) and struck out former subsec. (c) which related to power of Administrative Conference of the United States to establish and utilize standards for neutrals and to enter into contracts for services of neutrals.

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 104–320, § 7(b)(2), struck out “on a roster established under subsection (c)(2) or a roster maintained by other public or private organizations, or individual” after “contract with any person”.

1992—Pub. L. 102–354 renumbered section 583 of this title as this section.