---
kind: "section"
citation: "5 U.S.C. § 578"
title: "5"
title_heading: "Government Organization and Employees"
number: "578"
heading: "Authority of the arbitrator"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/5/578"
units:
  - "Part I — The Agencies Generally"
  - "Chapter 5 — Administrative Procedure"
  - "Subchapter IV — Alternative Means of Dispute Resolution in the Administrative Process"
---

# §578. Authority of the arbitrator


An arbitrator to whom a dispute is referred under this subchapter may—

- (1) regulate the course of and conduct arbitral hearings;
- (2) administer oaths and affirmations;
- (3) compel the attendance of witnesses and production of evidence at the hearing under the provisions of [section 7 of title 9](/usc/9/7.md) only to the extent the [agency](/usc/5/601.md?p=1) involved is otherwise authorized by law to do so; and
- (4) make [awards](/usc/5/571.md?p=4).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 101–552, § 4(b), Nov. 15, 1990, 104 Stat. 2742, § 588; renumbered § 578, Pub. L. 102–354, § 3(b)(2), Aug. 26, 1992, 106 Stat. 944.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1992—Pub. L. 102–354 renumbered section 588 of this title as this section.