---
kind: "section"
citation: "5 U.S.C. § 8461"
title: "5"
title_heading: "Government Organization and Employees"
number: "8461"
heading: "Authority of the Office of Personnel Management"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/5/8461"
units:
  - "Part III — Employees"
  - "Subpart G — Insurance and Annuities"
  - "Chapter 84 — Federal Employees’ Retirement System"
  - "Subchapter VI — General and Administrative Provisions"
---

# §8461. Authority of the Office of Personnel Management

- (a) The [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3) shall [pay](/usc/5/7511.md?p=a-4) all benefits that are payable under subchapter II, IV, V, or VI of this chapter from the [Fund](/usc/5/8401.md?p=6).
- (b) The [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3) shall administer all provisions of this chapter not specifically required to be administered by the [Board](/usc/5/8401.md?p=5), the [Executive Director](/usc/5/8401.md?p=13), the [Secretary](/usc/5/9901.md?p=2) of Labor, or any other officer or [agency](/usc/5/3132.md?p=a-1).
- (c) The [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3) shall adjudicate all claims under the provisions of this chapter administered by the [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3).
- (d) The [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3) shall determine questions of disability and dependency arising under the provisions of this chapter administered by the [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3). Except to the extent provided under [subsection (e)](#e), the decisions of the [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3) concerning these matters are final and conclusive and are not subject to review. The [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3) may direct at any time such medical or other examinations as it considers necessary to determine the facts concerning disability or dependency of an individual receiving or applying for annuity under the provisions of this chapter administered by the [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3). The [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3) may suspend or deny annuity for failure to submit to examination.
- (e)
  - (1) Subject to [paragraph (2)](#e-2), an administrative action or order affecting the rights or interests of an individual or of the [United States](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-18) under the provisions of this chapter administered by the [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3) may be appealed to the Merit [Systems](/usc/5/8401.md?p=29) Protection [Board](/usc/5/8401.md?p=5) under procedures prescribed by the [Board](/usc/5/8401.md?p=5).
  - (2) In the case of any individual found by the [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3) to be disabled in whole or in part on the basis of the individual’s mental condition, and that finding was made pursuant to an application by an [agency](/usc/5/3132.md?p=a-1) for purposes of disability retirement under [section 8451](/usc/5/8451.md), the procedures under [section 7701](/usc/5/7701.md) shall apply and the decision of the [Board](/usc/5/8401.md?p=5) shall be subject to judicial review under section 7703.
- (f) The [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3) shall fix the fees for examinations made under subchapter V of this chapter by physicians or surgeons who are not medical officers of the [United States](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-18). The fees and reasonable traveling and other expenses incurred in connection with the examinations are paid from appropriations for the cost of administering the provisions of this chapter administered by the [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3).
- (g) The [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3) may prescribe regulations to carry out the provisions of this chapter administered by the [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3).
- (h)
  - (1) Each [Government](/usc/5/4101.md?p=3) [agency](/usc/5/3132.md?p=a-1) shall furnish the [Director](/usc/5/8401.md?p=8) with such information as the [Director](/usc/5/8401.md?p=8) determines necessary in order to administer this chapter.
  - (2) The [Director](/usc/5/8401.md?p=8), in consultation with the officials from whom such information is requested, shall establish (by regulation or otherwise) such safeguards as are necessary to ensure that information made available under this subsection is used only for the purpose authorized.
- (i) In making a determination of “actuarial equivalence” under this chapter, the economic assumptions used shall be the same as the economic assumptions most recently used by the [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3) (before the determination of actuarial equivalence involved) in determining the [normal-cost percentage](/usc/5/8401.md?p=23) of the [System](/usc/5/8401.md?p=29).
- (j)
  - (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the [Director](/usc/5/8401.md?p=8) of Central Intelligence shall, in a manner consistent with the [administration](/usc/5/9801.md?p=1) of this chapter by the [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3), and to the extent considered appropriate by the [Director](/usc/5/8401.md?p=8) of Central Intelligence—
    - (A) determine entitlement to benefits under this chapter based on the [service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26) of [employees](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) of the Central Intelligence [Agency](/usc/5/3132.md?p=a-1);
    - (B) maintain records relating to the [service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26) of such [employees](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2);
    - (C) compute benefits under this chapter based on the [service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26) of such [employees](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2);
    - (D) collect deposits to the [Fund](/usc/5/8401.md?p=6) made by such [employees](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2), their spouses, their [former spouses](/usc/5/8401.md?p=12), and their [survivors](/usc/5/8401.md?p=28);
    - (E) authorize and direct disbursements from the [Fund](/usc/5/8401.md?p=6) to the extent based on [service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26) of such [employees](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2); and
    - (F) perform such other functions under this chapter (other than under subchapters III and VII of this chapter) with respect to [employees](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) of the Central Intelligence [Agency](/usc/5/3132.md?p=a-1) as the [Director](/usc/5/8401.md?p=8) of Central Intelligence, in consultation with the [Director](/usc/5/8401.md?p=8) of the [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3) of Personnel Management, determines to be appropriate.
  - (2) The [Director](/usc/5/8401.md?p=8) of the [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3) of Personnel Management shall furnish such information and, on a reimbursable basis, such [services](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26) to the [Director](/usc/5/8401.md?p=8) of Central Intelligence as the [Director](/usc/5/8401.md?p=8) of Central Intelligence requests to carry out [paragraph (1)](#j-1).
- (k)
  - (1) The [Director](/usc/5/8401.md?p=8) of Central Intelligence, in consultation with the [Executive Director](/usc/5/8401.md?p=13) of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment [Board](/usc/5/8401.md?p=5), may—
    - (A) maintain exclusive records relating to elections, contributions, and [accounts](/usc/5/8401.md?p=1) under the Thrift Savings Plan provided in subchapter III of this chapter in the case of [employees](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) of the Central Intelligence [Agency](/usc/5/3132.md?p=a-1);
    - (B) provide that contributions by, or on behalf of, such [employees](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) to the Thrift Savings Plan be accounted for by such [Executive Director](/usc/5/8401.md?p=13) in aggregate amounts;
    - (C) make the necessary disbursements from, and the necessary allocations of [earnings](/usc/5/8401.md?p=10), [losses](/usc/5/8401.md?p=18), and charges to, individual [accounts](/usc/5/8401.md?p=1) of such [employees](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) under the Thrift Savings Plan; and
    - (D) perform such other functions under subchapters III and VII of this chapter (but not including investing sums in the Thrift Savings [Fund](/usc/5/8401.md?p=6)) with respect to [employees](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) of the Central Intelligence [Agency](/usc/5/3132.md?p=a-1) as the [Director](/usc/5/8401.md?p=8) of Central Intelligence, in consultation with the [Executive Director](/usc/5/8401.md?p=13) of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment [Board](/usc/5/8401.md?p=5), determines to be appropriate.
  - (2) The [Executive Director](/usc/5/8401.md?p=13) of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment [Board](/usc/5/8401.md?p=5) may not exercise [authority](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-6) under this chapter in the case of [employees](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) of the Central Intelligence [Agency](/usc/5/3132.md?p=a-1) to the extent that the [Director](/usc/5/8401.md?p=8) of Central Intelligence exercises [authority](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-6) provided in [paragraph (1)](#k-1).
  - (3) The [Executive Director](/usc/5/8401.md?p=13) of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment [Board](/usc/5/8401.md?p=5) shall furnish such information and, on a reimbursable basis, such [services](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26) to the [Director](/usc/5/8401.md?p=8) of Central Intelligence as the [Director](/usc/5/8401.md?p=8) of Central Intelligence determines necessary to carry out this subsection.
- (l) [Subsection (h)(1)](#h-1), and sections [8439(b)](/usc/5/8439.md?p=b) and [8474(c)(4)](/usc/5/8474.md?p=c-4), shall be applied with respect to information relating to [employees](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) of the Central Intelligence [Agency](/usc/5/3132.md?p=a-1) in a manner that protects intelligence sources, methods, and activities.
- (m)
  - (1) The [Director](/usc/5/8401.md?p=8) of Central Intelligence, in consultation with the [Director](/usc/5/8401.md?p=8) of the [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3) of Personnel Management and the [Executive Director](/usc/5/8401.md?p=13) of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment [Board](/usc/5/8401.md?p=5), shall by regulation prescribe appropriate procedures to carry out subsections [(j)](#j), [(k)](#k), and [(l)](#l).
  - (2) The regulations shall provide procedures for the [Director](/usc/5/8401.md?p=8) of the [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3) of Personnel Management to inspect and audit disbursements from the [Fund](/usc/5/8401.md?p=6) under this chapter.
  - (3) The [Director](/usc/5/8401.md?p=8) of Central Intelligence shall submit the regulations prescribed under [paragraph (1)](#m-1) to the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives before the regulations take effect.
- (n)
  - (1) Under regulations prescribed by the [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3), an [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) who—
    - (A) has not previously made an election under this subsection or had an opportunity to make an election under this paragraph; and
    - (B) moves, without a break in [service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26) of more than 1 year, to employment in a nonappropriated [fund](/usc/5/8401.md?p=6) instrumentality of the [Department](/usc/5/10101.md?p=4) of Defense or the Coast Guard, respectively, described in [section 2105(c)](/usc/5/2105.md?p=c),

    shall be given the opportunity to elect irrevocably, within 30 days after such move, to remain covered as an [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) under this chapter during any employment described in [section 2105(c)](/usc/5/2105.md?p=c) after such move.

  - (2) Under regulations prescribed by the [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3), an [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) of a nonappropriated [fund](/usc/5/8401.md?p=6) instrumentality of the [Department](/usc/5/10101.md?p=4) of Defense or the Coast Guard described in [section 2105(c)](/usc/5/2105.md?p=c), who—
    - (A) has not previously made an election under this subsection or had an opportunity to make an election under this paragraph;
    - (B) is a participant in a retirement [system](/usc/5/8401.md?p=29) established for [employees](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) described in [section 2105(c)](/usc/5/2105.md?p=c);
    - (C) moves, without a break in [service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26) of more than 1 year, to a [position](/usc/5/5102.md?p=a-3) that is not described by [section 2105(c)](/usc/5/2105.md?p=c); and
    - (D) is not [eligible](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-3) to make an election under [section 8347(q)](/usc/5/8347.md?p=q),

    shall be given the opportunity to elect irrevocably, within 30 days after such move, to remain covered, during any subsequent employment as an [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) as defined by [section 2105(a)](/usc/5/2105.md?p=a) or [section 2105(c)](/usc/5/2105.md?p=c), by the retirement [system](/usc/5/8401.md?p=29) applicable to such [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2)’s current or most recent employment described by [section 2105(c)](/usc/5/2105.md?p=c) rather than be subject to this chapter.


## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 99–335, title I, § 101(a), June 6, 1986, 100 Stat. 570; amended Pub. L. 99–556, title I, § 102, Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3131; Pub. L. 101–508, title VII, § 7202(k)(2), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–339; Pub. L. 102–378, § 2(71), Oct. 2, 1992, 106 Stat. 1355; Pub. L. 104–106, div. A, title X, § 1043(a)(2), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 434; Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title XI, § 1131(b), Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1242.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2001—Subsec. (n)(1). Pub. L. 107–107, § 1131(b)(1), inserted “and” at end of subpar. (A), redesignated subpar. (C) as (B), and struck out former subpar. (B) which read as follows: “has 5 or more years of civilian service creditable under this chapter; and”.

Subsec. (n)(2)(B). Pub. L. 107–107, § 1131(b)(2), struck out “vested” before “participant in a retirement system” and struck out “, as the term ‘vested participant’ is defined by such system” before semicolon at end.

1996—Subsec. (n)(1). Pub. L. 104–106, § 1043(a)(2)(A), struck out “of the Department of Defense or the Coast Guard” after “an employee” in introductory provisions and substituted “1 year” for “3 days” in subpar. (C).

Subsec. (n)(2)(C). Pub. L. 104–106, § 1043(a)(2)(B), substituted “1 year” for “3 days” and struck out “in the Department of Defense or the Coast Guard, respectively,” after “to a position”.

1992—Subsec. (n)(1)(A), (2)(A). Pub. L. 102–378, § 2(71)(A), amended subpars. (A) generally. Prior to amendment, subpars. (A) read as follows: “has not previously made or had an opportunity to make an election under this subsection;”.

Subsec. (n)(2)(D). Pub. L. 102–378, § 2(71)(B), substituted “8347(q)” for “8347(p)”.

1990—Subsec. (n). Pub. L. 101–508 added subsec. (n).

1986—Subsec. (m)(2). Pub. L. 99–556 struck out “, and from the Thrift Savings Fund,” after “from the Fund”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Change of Name

Reference to the Director of Central Intelligence or the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency in the Director’s capacity as the head of the intelligence community deemed to be a reference to the Director of National Intelligence. Reference to the Director of Central Intelligence or the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency in the Director’s capacity as the head of the Central Intelligence Agency deemed to be a reference to the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. See section 1081(a), (b) of Pub. L. 108–458, set out as a note under section 3001 of Title 50, War and National Defense.

### Effective Date of 1996 Amendment

For effective date of amendments by Pub. L. 104–106, see Regulations; Effective Date of 1996 Amendment note below.

### Effective Date of 1992 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 102–378 effective Nov. 5, 1990, see section 9(b)(6) of Pub. L. 102–378, set out as a note under section 6303 of this title.

### Effective Date of 1990 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 101–508 applicable with respect to any individual who, on or after Jan. 1, 1987, moves from employment in nonappropriated fund instrumentality of Department of Defense or Coast Guard, that is described in section 2105(c) of this title, to employment in Department or Coast Guard, that is not described in section 2105(c), or who moves from employment in Department or Coast Guard, that is not described in section 2105(c), to employment in nonappropriated fund instrumentality of Department or Coast Guard, that is described in section 2105(c), see section 7202(m)(1) of Pub. L. 101–508, set out as a note under section 2105 of this title.

### Regulations; Effective Date of 1996 Amendment

For provisions relating to promulgation of regulations necessary to carry out amendment by Pub. L. 104–106, and effective date of such amendment in connection with those regulations, see section 1043(b), (c) of Pub. L. 104–106, set out as a note under section 8347 of this title.

### Transfer of Functions

For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 468(b), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.

### Treatment of Individuals Electing To Remain Subject to Their Former Retirement System

For provisions relating to the deductions and contributions required with respect to individuals electing under section 8347(q) or 8461(n) of this title to remain covered under subchapter III of chapter 83 of this title, chapter 84 of this title, or a retirement system for employees described in section 2105(c) of this title, see section 7202(n) of Pub. L. 101–508, set out as a note under section 2105 of this title.