---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 2008e"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "2008e"
heading: "Prohibition under rural development programs"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/2008e"
units:
  - "Chapter 50 — Agricultural Credit"
  - "Subchapter IV — Administrative Provisions"
---

# §2008e. Prohibition under rural development programs

- (a) **Prohibition—** Assistance under any [rural](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-13-A) development program administered by the [Rural](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-13-A) Development Administration, the [Farmers](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-1) Home Administration, the [Rural](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-13-A) Electrification Administration, or any other agency of the Department of Agriculture shall not be conditioned on any requirement that the recipient of such assistance accept or receive electric service from any particular utility, supplier, or cooperative.
- (b) **Ensuring compliance—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) shall establish, by regulation, adequate safeguards to ensure that assistance under such [rural](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-13-A) development programs is not subject to such a condition. Such safeguards shall include periodic certifications and audits, and appropriate measures and sanctions against any [person](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-1) violating, or attempting to violate, the prohibition in [subsection (a)](#a).
- (c) **Regulations—** Not later than 6 months after November 1, 1993, the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) shall issue interim final regulations to ensure compliance with [subsection (a)](#a).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 87–128, title III, § 370, as added Pub. L. 103–129, § 5, Nov. 1, 1993, 107 Stat. 1366.)