---
kind: "section"
citation: "5 U.S.C. § 8440e"
title: "5"
title_heading: "Government Organization and Employees"
number: "8440e"
heading: "Members of the uniformed services"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/5/8440e"
units:
  - "Part III — Employees"
  - "Subpart G — Insurance and Annuities"
  - "Chapter 84 — Federal Employees’ Retirement System"
  - "Subchapter III — Thrift Savings Plan"
---

# §8440e. Members of the uniformed services

- (a) For purposes of this section—
  - (1) the term “[basic pay](/usc/5/8401.md?p=4)” means [basic pay](/usc/5/8401.md?p=4) payable under [section 204 of title 37](/usc/37/204.md);
  - (2) the term “full TSP [member](/usc/5/8401.md?p=20)” means a [member](/usc/5/8401.md?p=20) described in [subsection (e)(1)](#e-1);
  - (3) the term “[member](/usc/5/8401.md?p=20)” has the meaning given the term in [section 211 of title 37](/usc/37/211.md); and
  - (4) the term “[Secretary](/usc/5/9901.md?p=2) concerned” has the meaning given the term in [section 101 of title 37](/usc/37/101.md).
- (b)
  - (1) Any [member](/usc/5/8401.md?p=20) [eligible](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-3) to participate in the Thrift Savings Plan by virtue of [section 211(b) of title 37](/usc/37/211.md?p=b) may contribute to the Thrift Savings [Fund](/usc/5/8401.md?p=6).
  - (2)
    - (A) Except as provided in [subparagraph (B)](#b-2-B), an election to contribute to the Thrift Savings [Fund](/usc/5/8401.md?p=6) under this section may be made as provided under [section 8432(b)](/usc/5/8432.md?p=b).
    - (B)
      - (i) Notwithstanding [subparagraph (A)](#b-2-A), any individual who is a [member](/usc/5/8401.md?p=20) as of the effective date that applies with respect to such individual under section 663 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000 may make the first such election during the 60-day period beginning on such effective date.
      - (ii) An election made under this subparagraph shall take effect on the first day of the first applicable [pay](/usc/5/7511.md?p=a-4) period beginning after the close of the 60-day period referred to in [clause (i)](#b-2-B-i).
- (c) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the provisions of this subchapter and subchapter VII shall apply with respect to [members](/usc/5/8401.md?p=20) making contributions to the Thrift Savings [Fund](/usc/5/8401.md?p=6), and such [members](/usc/5/8401.md?p=20) shall, for purposes of this subchapter and subchapter VII, be considered [employees](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) within the meaning of [section 8401(11)](/usc/5/8401.md?p=11).
- (d)
  - (1)
    - (A) The amount contributed by a [member](/usc/5/8401.md?p=20) described in [section 211(a)(1) of title 37](/usc/37/211.md?p=a-1) for any [pay](/usc/5/7511.md?p=a-4) period out of [basic pay](/usc/5/8401.md?p=4) may not exceed the maximum percentage of such [member](/usc/5/8401.md?p=20)’s [basic pay](/usc/5/8401.md?p=4) for such [pay](/usc/5/7511.md?p=a-4) period allowable under section 8440f.
    - (B) The amount contributed by a [member](/usc/5/8401.md?p=20) described in [section 211(a)(2) of title 37](/usc/37/211.md?p=a-2) for any [pay](/usc/5/7511.md?p=a-4) period out of any compensation received under [section 206 of title 37](/usc/37/206.md) may not exceed the maximum percentage of such [member](/usc/5/8401.md?p=20)’s compensation for such [pay](/usc/5/7511.md?p=a-4) period (received under such [section 206](/usc/37/206.md)) allowable under section 8440f.
  - (2) A [member](/usc/5/8401.md?p=20) making contributions to the Thrift Savings [Fund](/usc/5/8401.md?p=6) out of [basic pay](/usc/5/8401.md?p=4), or out of compensation under [section 206 of title 37](/usc/37/206.md), may also contribute (by direct transfer to the [Fund](/usc/5/8401.md?p=6)) any part of any special or incentive [pay](/usc/5/7511.md?p=a-4) that such [member](/usc/5/8401.md?p=20) receives under chapter 5 of title 37.
  - (3) Nothing in this section or [section 211 of title 37](/usc/37/211.md) shall be considered to waive any dollar limitation under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 which otherwise applies with respect to the Thrift Savings [Fund](/usc/5/8401.md?p=6).
- (e) **Modernized Retirement System.—**
  - (1) **TSP contributions.—** Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the [Secretary](/usc/5/9901.md?p=2) concerned shall make contributions to the Thrift Savings [Fund](/usc/5/8401.md?p=6), in accordance with [section 8432](/usc/5/8432.md) (except to the extent the requirements under such section are modified by this subsection), for the benefit of a [member](/usc/5/8401.md?p=20)—
    - (A) who first enters a uniformed [service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26) on or after January 1, 2018; or
    - (B) who—
      - (i) first entered a uniformed [service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26) before January 1, 2018;
      - (ii) has completed fewer than 12 years of [service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26) in the uniformed [services](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26) as of December 31, 2017; and
      - (iii) makes the election described in section [1409(b)(4)(B)](/usc/10/1409.md?p=b-4-B) or 12729(f)(2) of title 10 to receive Thrift Savings Plan contributions under this subsection in exchange for the reduced multipliers described in section [1409(b)(4)(A)](/usc/10/1409.md?p=b-4-A) or [12739(f)(1)](/usc/10/12739.md?p=f-1) of title 10, as applicable, for purposes of calculating the retired [pay](/usc/5/7511.md?p=a-4) of the [member](/usc/5/8401.md?p=20).
  - (2) **Maximum amount.—** The amount contributed under this subsection by the [Secretary](/usc/5/9901.md?p=2) concerned for the benefit of a full TSP [member](/usc/5/8401.md?p=20) for any [pay](/usc/5/7511.md?p=a-4) period shall not be more than 5 percent of the [member](/usc/5/8401.md?p=20)’s [basic pay](/usc/5/8401.md?p=4) for such [pay](/usc/5/7511.md?p=a-4) period. Any such contribution under this subsection, though in accordance with [section 8432](/usc/5/8432.md) as provided in [paragraph (1)](#e-1), is instead of, and not in addition to, amounts contributable under [section 8432](/usc/5/8432.md) as provided in [section 8432(c)](/usc/5/8432.md?p=c).
  - (3) **Timing and duration of contributions.—**
    - (A) **Automatic contributions.—** The [Secretary](/usc/5/9901.md?p=2) concerned shall make a contribution described in [section 8432(c)(1)](/usc/5/8432.md?p=c-1) under this subsection for the benefit of a [member](/usc/5/8401.md?p=20) described in [paragraph (1)](#e-1) for any [pay](/usc/5/7511.md?p=a-4) period during the period that—
      - (i) begins—
        - (I) on or after the day that is 60 days afer the date the [member](/usc/5/8401.md?p=20) first enters a uniformed [service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26), in the case of a [member](/usc/5/8401.md?p=20) described in [paragraph (1)(A)](#e-1-A); or
        - (II) on or after the date the [member](/usc/5/8401.md?p=20) makes the election described in [paragraph (1)(B)](#e-1-B), in the case of a [member](/usc/5/8401.md?p=20) making such an election; and
      - (ii) ends on the day such [member](/usc/5/8401.md?p=20) completes 26 years of [service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26) as a [member of the uniformed services](/usc/5/9001.md?p=3).
    - (B) **Matching contributions.—** The [Secretary](/usc/5/9901.md?p=2) concerned shall make a contribution described in [section 8432(c)(2)](/usc/5/8432.md?p=c-2) under this subsection for the benefit of a [member](/usc/5/8401.md?p=20) described in [paragraph (1)](#e-1) for any [pay](/usc/5/7511.md?p=a-4) period during the period that—
      - (i) begins—
        - (I) on or after the day that is 2 years and 1 day after the date the [member](/usc/5/8401.md?p=20) first enters a uniformed [service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26), in the case of a [member](/usc/5/8401.md?p=20) described in [paragraph (1)(A)](#e-1-A); or
        - (II) on or after the date the [member](/usc/5/8401.md?p=20) makes the election described in [paragraph (1)(B)](#e-1-B), in the case of a [member](/usc/5/8401.md?p=20) making such an election; and
      - (ii) ends on the day such [member](/usc/5/8401.md?p=20) completes 26 years of [service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26) as a [member of the uniformed services](/usc/5/9001.md?p=3).
  - (4) **Protections for spouses and former spouses.—** [Section 8435](/usc/5/8435.md) shall apply to a full TSP [member](/usc/5/8401.md?p=20) in the same manner as such section is applied to an [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) or [Member](/usc/5/8401.md?p=20) under such section.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title VI, § 661(a)(2)(A), Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 670; amended Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [[div. A], title VI, § 661(c)], Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1654, 1654A–167; Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(4) [div. B, title I, § 138(a)(6)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–233; Pub. L. 108–469, § 1(d)(8), Dec. 21, 2004, 118 Stat. 3892; Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title VI, § 632(a), Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 845.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Section 663 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000, referred to in subsec. (b)(2)(B)(i), is section 663 of Pub. L. 106–65, which is set out as an Effective Date note below.

The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, referred to in subsec. (d)(3), is classified generally to Title 26, Internal Revenue Code.

### Amendments

2015—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 114–92, § 632(a)(1), added pars. (1) to (4) and struck out former pars. (1) and (2) which defined “member” and “basic pay”, respectively.

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 114–92, § 632(a)(2), amended subsec. (e) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (e) read as follows: “Except as provided in section 211(d) of title 37, no contribution under section 8432(c) of this title may be made for the benefit of a member making contributions to the Thrift Savings Fund under this section.”

2004—Subsec. (b)(2)(A). Pub. L. 108–469 substituted “as provided under section 8432(b)” for “only during a period provided under section 8432(b), subject to the same conditions as prescribed under paragraph (2) (A)–(D) thereof”.

2000—Subsec. (b)(2)(B)(i). Pub. L. 106–398 substituted “as of the effective date that applies with respect to such individual under section 663 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000” for “as of the effective date described in paragraph (1) of section 663(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000 (or, if applicable, paragraph (2) thereof)”.

Subsec. (d)(1)(A). Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(4) [div. B, title I, § 138(a)(6)(A)], substituted “the maximum percentage of such member’s basic pay for such pay period allowable under section 8440f.” for “5 percent of such member’s basic pay for such pay period.”

Subsec. (d)(1)(B). Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(4) [div. B, title I, § 138(a)(6)(B)], substituted “the maximum percentage of such member’s compensation for such pay period (received under such section 206) allowable under section 8440f.” for “5 percent of such compensation, payable to such member for such pay period.”

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2015 Amendment; Implementation

Amendment by Pub. L. 114–92 effective Jan. 1, 2018, with certain implementation requirements, see section 635 of Pub. L. 114–92, set out as a note under section 8432 of this title.

### Effective Date

Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title VI, § 663, Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 673, as amended by Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [[div. A], title VI, § 661(a)], Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1654, 1654A–167, provided that: In General.—Except as provided in subsection (b), the amendments made by this subtitle [subtitle F (§§ 661–663) of title VI of div. A of Pub. L. 106–65, enacting this section and section 211 of Title 37, Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed Services, and amending sections 8351, 8432b, 8433, 8439, and 8473 of this title and section 211 of Title 37] shall take effect 180 days after the date of the enactment of the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 [Oct. 30, 2000]. Postponement Authority.— The Secretary of Defense may postpone by up to 180 days after the date that would otherwise apply under subsection (a)— the date as of which the amendments made by this subtitle shall take effect; or the date as of which section 211(a)(2) of title 37, United States Code (as added by this subtitle) shall take effect. Postponement authority under this subsection may be exercised only to the extent that the failure to do so would prevent the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board from being able to provide timely and accurate services to investors or would place an excessive burden on the administrative capacity of the Board to accommodate participants in the Thrift Savings Plan, as determined by the Secretary of Defense after consultation with the Executive Director (appointed by the Board). Paragraph (1) includes the authority to postpone the effective date of the amendments made by this subtitle (apart from section 211(a)(2) of title 37, United States Code), and the effective date of such section 211(a)(2), by different lengths of time. The Secretary shall notify the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives], the Committee on Government Reform [now Committee on Oversight and Accountability] of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Governmental Affairs [now Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs] of the Senate of any determination made under this subsection.”

### Regulations

Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title VI, § 661(b), Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 672, as amended by Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [[div. A], title VI, § 661(b)], Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1654, 1654A–167, provided that: “Not later than the 180th day after the date of the enactment of the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 [Oct. 30, 2000], the Executive Director (appointed by the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board) shall issue regulations to implement the amendments made by this subtitle [subtitle F (§§ 661–663) of title VI of div. A of Pub. L. 106–65, enacting this section and section 211 of Title 37, Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed Services, and amending sections 8351, 8432b, 8433, 8439, and 8473 of this title and section 211 of Title 37].”