---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 2279f"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "2279f"
heading: "Subpoena authority"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/2279f"
units:
  - "Chapter 55 — Department of Agriculture"
---

# §2279f. Subpoena authority

- (a) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) concerned shall have power to subpoena the attendance and testimony of any witness, and the production of all documentary evidence relating to the enforcement of [section 2279e of this title](/usc/7/2279e.md) or any matter under investigation in connection with this section and [section 2279e of this title](/usc/7/2279e.md).
- (b) **Location of production—** The attendance of any witness and the production of documentary evidence may be required from any place in the United States at any designated place of hearing.
- (c) **Enforcement of subpoena—** In the case of disobedience to a subpoena by any [person](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-1), the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) concerned may request the Attorney General to invoke the aid of any court of the United States within the jurisdiction in which the investigation is conducted, or where the [person](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-1) resides, is found, transacts business, is licensed to do business, or is incorporated, in requiring the attendance and testimony of any witness and the production of documentary evidence. In case of a refusal to obey a subpoena issued to any [person](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-1), a court may order the [person](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-1) to appear before the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) concerned and give evidence concerning the matter in question or to produce documentary evidence. Any failure to obey the court’s order may be punished by the court as a contempt of the court.
- (d) **Compensation—** Witnesses summoned by the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) concerned shall be paid the same fees and mileage that are paid to witnesses in courts of the United States, and witnesses whose depositions are taken, and the [persons](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-1) taking the depositions shall be entitled to the same fees that are paid for similar services in the courts of the United States.
- (e) **Procedures—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) concerned shall publish procedures for the issuance of subpoenas under this section. Such procedures shall include a requirement that subpoenas be reviewed for legal sufficiency and signed by the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) concerned. If the authority to sign a subpoena is delegated, the agency receiving the delegation shall seek review for legal sufficiency outside that agency.
- (f) **Scope of subpoena—** Subpoenas for witnesses to attend court in any judicial district or testify or produce evidence at an administrative hearing in any judicial district in any action or proceeding arising under [section 2279e of this title](/usc/7/2279e.md) may run to any other judicial district.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 106–224, title V, § 502, June 20, 2000, 114 Stat. 455; Pub. L. 107–296, title IV, § 421(h)(2), Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2184.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2002—Subsecs. (a), (c) to (e). Pub. L. 107–296 substituted “Secretary concerned” for “Secretary” wherever appearing.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2002 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 107–296 effective 60 days after Nov. 25, 2002, see section 4 of Pub. L. 107–296, set out as an Effective Date note under section 101 of Title 6, Domestic Security.