---
kind: "section"
citation: "50 U.S.C. § 1881h"
title: "50"
title_heading: "War and National Defense"
number: "1881h"
heading: "Penalties for unauthorized disclosure"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/50/1881h"
units:
  - "Chapter 36 — Foreign Intelligence Surveillance"
  - "Subchapter VI — Additional Procedures Regarding Certain Persons Outside the United States"
---

# §1881h. Penalties for unauthorized disclosure

- (a) **Offense—** A [person](/usc/50/1881.md?p=a) is guilty of an offense under this section if that [person](/usc/50/1881.md?p=a) knowingly and willfully communicates, furnishes, transmits, or otherwise makes available to an unauthorized [person](/usc/50/1881.md?p=a), or publishes, or uses in any manner prejudicial to the safety or interest of the [United States](/usc/50/1881.md?p=a) or for the benefit of any foreign government to the detriment of the [United States](/usc/50/1881.md?p=a) any classified information that contains the [contents](/usc/50/1881.md?p=a) of any communication acquired under this subchapter to which a known [United States person](/usc/50/1881.md?p=a) is a party.
- (b) **Penalty—** A [person](/usc/50/1881.md?p=a) guilty of an offense in this section shall be fined under [title 18](/usc/18.md), imprisoned for not more than 8 years, or both.
- (c) **Jurisdiction—** There is Federal jurisdiction over an offense under this section if the [person](/usc/50/1881.md?p=a) committing the offense was an officer or employee of the [United States](/usc/50/1881.md?p=a) at the time the offense was committed.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 95–511, title VII, § 709, as added Pub. L. 118–49, § 13(c), Apr. 20, 2024, 138 Stat. 882.)

## Notes

### Repeal of Section

Pub. L. 110–261, title IV, § 403(b)(1), July 10, 2008, 122 Stat. 2474, as amended by Pub. L. 112–238, § 2(a)(1), Dec. 30, 2012, 126 Stat. 1631; Pub. L. 115–118, title II, § 201(a)(1), Jan. 19, 2018, 132 Stat. 19; Pub. L. 118–31, div. G, title IX, § 7902(a)(1), Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 1108; Pub. L. 118–49, § 19(a)(1), Apr. 20, 2024, 138 Stat. 891; Pub. L. 119–84, § 1(a)(1), Apr. 18, 2026, 140 Stat. 770; Pub. L. 119–87, § 1(a)(1), Apr. 30, 2026, 140 Stat. 811, provided that, except as provided in section 404 of Pub. L. 110–261, set out as a note under section 1801 of this title, effective June 12, 2026, this section is repealed.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of Repeal

Pub. L. 110–261, title IV, § 403(b)(1), July 10, 2008, 122 Stat. 2474, as amended by Pub. L. 112–238, § 2(a)(1), Dec. 30, 2012, 126 Stat. 1631; Pub. L. 115–118, title II, § 201(a)(1), Jan. 19, 2018, 132 Stat. 19; Pub. L. 118–31, div. G, title IX, § 7902(a)(1), Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 1108; Pub. L. 118–49, § 19(a)(1), Apr. 20, 2024, 138 Stat. 891; Pub. L. 119–84, § 1(a)(1), Apr. 18, 2026, 140 Stat. 770; Pub. L. 119–87, § 1(a)(1), Apr. 30, 2026, 140 Stat. 811, provided that, except as provided in section 404 of Pub. L. 110–261, set out as a Transition Procedures note under section 1801 of this title, the repeals made by section 403(b)(1) are effective June 12, 2026.