---
kind: "section"
citation: "5 U.S.C. § 7513"
title: "5"
title_heading: "Government Organization and Employees"
number: "7513"
heading: "Cause and procedure"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/5/7513"
units:
  - "Part III — Employees"
  - "Subpart F — Labor-Management and Employee Relations"
  - "Chapter 75 — Adverse Actions"
  - "Subchapter II — Removal, Suspension for More Than 14 Days, Reduction in Grade or Pay, or Furlough for 30 Days or Less"
---

# §7513. Cause and procedure

- (a) Under regulations prescribed by the [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3) of Personnel Management, an [agency](/usc/5/3132.md?p=a-1) may take an action covered by this subchapter against an [employee](/usc/5/7501.md?p=1) only for such cause as will promote the efficiency of the [service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26).
- (b) An [employee](/usc/5/7501.md?p=1) against whom an action is proposed is entitled to—
  - (1) at least 30 days’ advance written notice, unless there is reasonable cause to believe the [employee](/usc/5/7501.md?p=1) has committed a crime for which a sentence of imprisonment may be imposed, stating the specific reasons for the proposed action;
  - (2) a reasonable time, but not less than 7 days, to answer orally and in writing and to furnish affidavits and other documentary evidence in support of the answer;
  - (3) be represented by an attorney or other representative; and
  - (4) a written decision and the specific reasons therefor at the earliest practicable date.
- (c) An [agency](/usc/5/3132.md?p=a-1) may provide, by regulation, for a hearing which may be in lieu of or in addition to the opportunity to answer provided under [subsection (b)(2)](#b-2) of this section.
- (d) An [employee](/usc/5/7501.md?p=1) against whom an action is taken under this section is entitled to appeal to the Merit [Systems](/usc/5/8401.md?p=29) Protection [Board](/usc/5/8401.md?p=5) under [section 7701 of this title](/usc/5/7701.md).
- (e) Copies of the notice of proposed action, the answer of the [employee](/usc/5/7501.md?p=1) when written, a summary thereof when made orally, the notice of decision and reasons therefor, and any order effecting an action covered by this subchapter, together with any supporting material, shall be maintained by the [agency](/usc/5/3132.md?p=a-1) and shall be furnished to the [Board](/usc/5/8401.md?p=5) upon its request and to the [employee](/usc/5/7501.md?p=1) affected upon the [employee](/usc/5/7501.md?p=1)’s request.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 95–454, title II, § 204(a), Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1136.)

## 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.