---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 717"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "717"
heading: "Limitation on administrative leave"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/717"
units:
  - "Part I — General Provisions"
  - "Chapter 7 — Employees"
  - "Subchapter I — General Employee Matters"
---

# §717. Limitation on administrative leave

- (a) **In General.—** Except as provided in [subsection (b)](#b), the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) may not place any [covered individual](#c) on administrative leave, or any other type of paid non-duty status without charge to leave, for more than a total of 14 days during any 365-day period.
- (b) **Waiver.—** The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) may waive the limitation under [subsection (a)](#a) and extend the administrative leave or other paid non-duty status without charge to leave of a [covered individual](#c) placed on such leave or status under [subsection (a)](#a) if the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) submits to the Committees on [Veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2)’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a detailed explanation of the reasons the individual was placed on administrative leave or other paid non-duty status without charge to leave and the reasons for the extension of such leave or status. Such explanation shall include the job title and grade of the [covered individual](#c) and the location where the individual is employed.
- (c) **Covered Individual.—** In this section, the term “covered individual” means an [employee](/usc/38/4303.md?p=3) of the [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1)—
  - (1) who is subject to an investigation for purposes of determining whether such individual should be subject to any disciplinary action under this title or [title 5](/usc/5.md); or
  - (2) against whom any disciplinary action is proposed or initiated under this title or [title 5](/usc/5.md).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 114–315, title V, § 503(a)(1), Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1568.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Prior sections 717 and 718 were renumbered sections 1917 and 1918 of this title, respectively.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Pub. L. 114–315, title V, § 503(b), Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1568, provided that: “Section 717 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a)(1), shall apply with respect to any 365-day period beginning on or after the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 16, 2016].”