---
kind: "section"
citation: "5 U.S.C. § 7131"
title: "5"
title_heading: "Government Organization and Employees"
number: "7131"
heading: "Official time"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/5/7131"
units:
  - "Part III — Employees"
  - "Subpart F — Labor-Management and Employee Relations"
  - "Chapter 71 — Labor-Management Relations"
  - "Subchapter IV — Administrative and Other Provisions"
---

# §7131. Official time

- (a) Any [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) representing an [exclusive representative](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-16) in the negotiation of a [collective bargaining agreement](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-8) under this chapter shall be authorized official time for such purposes, including attendance at impasse proceeding, during the time the [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) otherwise would be in a duty status. The number of [employees](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) for whom official time is authorized under this subsection shall not exceed the number of individuals designated as representing the [agency](/usc/5/3132.md?p=a-1) for such purposes.
- (b) Any activities performed by any [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) relating to the internal business of a [labor organization](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-4) (including the solicitation of membership, elections of [labor organization](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-4) officials, and collection of [dues](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-5)) shall be performed during the time the [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) is in a non-duty status.
- (c) Except as provided in [subsection (a)](#a) of this section, the [Authority](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-6) shall determine whether any [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) participating for, or on behalf of, a [labor organization](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-4) in any phase of proceedings before the [Authority](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-6) shall be authorized official time for such purpose during the time the [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) otherwise would be in a duty status.
- (d) Except as provided in the preceding subsections of this section—
  - (1) any [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) representing an [exclusive representative](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-16), or
  - (2) in connection with any other matter covered by this chapter, any [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) in an appropriate unit represented by an [exclusive representative](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-16),

  shall be granted official time in any amount the [agency](/usc/5/3132.md?p=a-1) and the [exclusive representative](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-16) involved agree to be reasonable, necessary, and in the public interest.


## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 95–454, title VII, § 701, Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1214.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective 90 days after Oct. 13, 1978, see section 907 of Pub. L. 95–454, set out as an Effective Date of 1978 Amendment note under section 1101 of this title.

### Executive Documents

### Executive Order No. 13837

Ex. Ord. No. 13837, May 25, 2018, 83 F.R. 25335, which limited the use of taxpayer-funded union time by Federal employees in representing labor organizations and performing other non-agency business, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 14003, § 3(b), Jan. 22, 2021, 86 F.R. 7231, set out in a note under section 3301 of this title.

[Ex. Ord. No. 13837, formerly set out above, construed to be amended to the extent necessary, by Memorandum of President of the United States, Oct. 11, 2019, 84 F.R. 56095, set out as a note under section 7101 of this title.]