---
kind: "section"
citation: "5 U.S.C. § 8480"
title: "5"
title_heading: "Government Organization and Employees"
number: "8480"
heading: "Subpoena authority"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/5/8480"
units:
  - "Part III — Employees"
  - "Subpart G — Insurance and Annuities"
  - "Chapter 84 — Federal Employees’ Retirement System"
  - "Subchapter VII — Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Management System"
---

# §8480. Subpoena authority

- (a) In order to carry out the responsibilities specified in this subchapter and subchapter III of this chapter, the [Executive Director](/usc/5/8401.md?p=13) may issue subpoenas commanding each [person](/usc/5/8471.md?p=4) to whom the subpoena is directed to produce designated books, documents, records, electronically stored information, or tangible materials in the possession or control of that individual.
- (b) Notwithstanding any Federal, [State](/usc/5/8521.md?p=a-3), or local law, any [person](/usc/5/8471.md?p=4), including officers, agents, and [employees](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2), receiving a subpoena under this section, who complies in good faith with the subpoena and thus produces the materials sought, shall not be liable in any [court](/usc/5/8401.md?p=7) of any [State](/usc/5/8521.md?p=a-3) or the [United States](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-18) to any individual, domestic or foreign corporation or upon a partnership or other unincorporated association for such production.
- (c) When a [person](/usc/5/8471.md?p=4) fails to obey a subpoena issued under this section, the district [court](/usc/5/8401.md?p=7) of the [United States](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-18) for the district in which the investigation is conducted or in which the [person](/usc/5/8471.md?p=4) failing to obey is found, shall on proper application issue an order directing that [person](/usc/5/8471.md?p=4) to comply with the subpoena. The [court](/usc/5/8401.md?p=7) may punish as contempt any disobedience of its order.
- (d) The [Executive Director](/usc/5/8401.md?p=13) shall prescribe regulations to carry out [subsection (a)](#a).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 111–31, div. B, title I, § 107(a), June 22, 2009, 123 Stat. 1856.)