6 U.S.C.
United States Code, 2022 Edition
Title 6 - DOMESTIC SECURITY
CHAPTER 1 - HOMELAND SECURITY ORGANIZATION
SUBCHAPTER XII - TRANSITION
Part B - Transitional Provisions
From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov

### Part B—Transitional Provisions

### §551. Transitional authorities

#### (a) Provision of assistance by officials

Until the transfer of an agency to the Department, any official having authority over or functions relating to the agency immediately before the effective date of this chapter shall provide to the Secretary such assistance, including the use of personnel and assets, as the Secretary may request in preparing for the transfer and integration of the agency into the Department.

#### (b) Services and personnel

During the transition period, upon the request of the Secretary, the head of any executive agency may, on a reimbursable basis, provide services or detail personnel to assist with the transition.

#### (c) Acting officials

(1) During the transition period, pending the advice and consent of the Senate to the appointment of an officer required by this chapter to be appointed by and with such advice and consent, the President may designate any officer whose appointment was required to be made by and with such advice and consent and who was such an officer immediately before the effective date of this chapter (and who continues in office) or immediately before such designation, to act in such office until the same is filled as provided in this chapter. While so acting, such officers shall receive compensation at the higher of—

(A) the rates provided by this chapter for the respective offices in which they act; or

(B) the rates provided for the offices held at the time of designation.

(2) Nothing in this chapter shall be understood to require the advice and consent of the Senate to the appointment by the President to a position in the Department of any officer whose agency is transferred to the Department pursuant to this chapter and whose duties following such transfer are germane to those performed before such transfer.

#### (d) Transfer of personnel, assets, obligations, and functions

Upon the transfer of an agency to the Department—

(1) the personnel, assets, and obligations held by or available in connection with the agency shall be transferred to the Secretary for appropriate allocation, subject to the approval of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and in accordance with the provisions of section 1531(a)(2) of title 31; and

(2) the Secretary shall have all functions relating to the agency that any other official could by law exercise in relation to the agency immediately before such transfer, and shall have in addition all functions vested in the Secretary by this chapter or other law.

#### (e) Prohibition on use of transportation trust funds

#### (1) In general

Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, no funds derived from the Highway Trust Fund, Airport and Airway Trust Fund, Inland Waterway Trust Fund, or Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, may be transferred to, made available to, or obligated by the Secretary or any other official in the Department.

#### (2) Limitation

This subsection shall not apply to security-related funds provided to the Federal Aviation Administration for fiscal years preceding fiscal year 2003 for (A) operations, (B) facilities and equipment, or (C) research, engineering, and development, and to any funds provided to the Coast Guard from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund for boating safety programs.

(Pub. L. 107–296, title XV, §1511, Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2309; Pub. L. 108–7, div. L, §103(4), Feb. 20, 2003, 117 Stat. 529; Pub. L. 109–59, title XI, §11115(b)(2)(F), Aug. 10, 2005, 119 Stat. 1950.)

#### Editorial Notes

#### References in Text

The effective date of this chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (c)(1), is 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 this title.

This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (c), (d)(2), and (e)(1), was in the original "this Act", meaning Pub. L. 107–296, Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2135, known as the Homeland Security Act of 2002, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 101 of this title and Tables.

#### Amendments

2005—Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 109–59 substituted "Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund" for "Aquatic Resources Trust Fund of the Highway Trust Fund".

2003—Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 108–7 inserted before period at end ", and to any funds provided to the Coast Guard from the Aquatic Resources Trust Fund of the Highway Trust Fund for boating safety programs".

#### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

#### Effective Date of 2005 Amendment

Pub. L. 109–59, title XI, §11115(d), Aug. 10, 2005, 119 Stat. 1950, provided that: "The amendments made by this section [amending this section and sections 9503 and 9504 of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code] shall take effect on October 1, 2005."

### §552. Savings provisions

#### (a) Completed administrative actions

(1) Completed administrative actions of an agency shall not be affected by the enactment of this chapter or the transfer of such agency to the Department, but shall continue in effect according to their terms until amended, modified, superseded, terminated, set aside, or revoked in accordance with law by an officer of the United States or a court of competent jurisdiction, or by operation of law.

(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), the term "completed administrative action" includes orders, determinations, rules, regulations, personnel actions, permits, agreements, grants, contracts, certificates, licenses, registrations, and privileges.

#### (b) Pending proceedings

Subject to the authority of the Secretary under this chapter—

(1) pending proceedings in an agency, including notices of proposed rulemaking, and applications for licenses, permits, certificates, grants, and financial assistance, shall continue notwithstanding the enactment of this chapter or the transfer of the agency to the Department, unless discontinued or modified under the same terms and conditions and to the same extent that such discontinuance could have occurred if such enactment or transfer had not occurred; and

(2) orders issued in such proceedings, and appeals therefrom, and payments made pursuant to such orders, shall issue in the same manner and on the same terms as if this chapter had not been enacted or the agency had not been transferred, and any such orders shall continue in effect until amended, modified, superseded, terminated, set aside, or revoked by an officer of the United States or a court of competent jurisdiction, or by operation of law.

#### (c) Pending civil actions

Subject to the authority of the Secretary under this chapter, pending civil actions shall continue notwithstanding the enactment of this chapter or the transfer of an agency to the Department, and in such civil actions, proceedings shall be had, appeals taken, and judgments rendered and enforced in the same manner and with the same effect as if such enactment or transfer had not occurred.

#### (d) References

References relating to an agency that is transferred to the Department in statutes, Executive orders, rules, regulations, directives, or delegations of authority that precede such transfer or the effective date of this chapter shall be deemed to refer, as appropriate, to the Department, to its officers, employees, or agents, or to its corresponding organizational units or functions. Statutory reporting requirements that applied in relation to such an agency immediately before the effective date of this chapter shall continue to apply following such transfer if they refer to the agency by name.

#### (e) Employment provisions

(1) Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing (including subsections (a) and (d)), in and for the Department the Secretary may, in regulations prescribed jointly with the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, adopt the rules, procedures, terms, and conditions, established by statute, rule, or regulation before the effective date of this chapter, relating to employment in any agency transferred to the Department pursuant to this chapter; and

(2) except as otherwise provided in this chapter, or under authority granted by this chapter, the transfer pursuant to this chapter of personnel shall not alter the terms and conditions of employment, including compensation, of any employee so transferred.

#### (f) Statutory reporting requirements

Any statutory reporting requirement that applied to an agency, transferred to the Department under this chapter, immediately before the effective date of this chapter shall continue to apply following that transfer if the statutory requirement refers to the agency by name.

(Pub. L. 107–296, title XV, §1512, Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2310.)

#### Editorial Notes

#### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original "this Act", meaning Pub. L. 107–296, Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2135, known as the Homeland Security Act of 2002, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 101 of this title and Tables.

The effective date of this chapter, referred to in subsecs. (d), (e)(1), and (f), is 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 this title.

### §552a. Savings provision of certain transfers made under the Homeland Security Act of 2002

The transfer of functions under subtitle B of title XI of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Public Law 107–296) [6 U.S.C. 531 et seq.] shall not affect any pending or completed administrative actions, including orders, determinations, rules, regulations, personnel actions, permits, agreements, grants, contracts, certificates, licenses, or registrations, in effect on the date immediately prior to the date of such transfer, or any proceeding, unless and until amended, modified, superseded, terminated, set aside, or revoked. Pending civil actions shall not be affected by such transfer of functions.

(Pub. L. 108–7, div. L, §106, Feb. 20, 2003, 117 Stat. 531.)

#### Editorial Notes

#### References in Text

The Homeland Security Act of 2002, referred to in text, is Pub. L. 107–296, Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2135, which is classified principally to this chapter. Subtitle B of title XI of the Act is classified principally to part B (§531 et seq.) of subchapter XI of this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 101 of this title and Tables.

#### Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Homeland Security Act Amendments of 2003 and also as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Resolution, 2003, and not as part of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 which comprises this chapter.

### §553. Terminations

Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, whenever all the functions vested by law in any agency have been transferred pursuant to this chapter, each position and office the incumbent of which was authorized to receive compensation at the rates prescribed for an office or position at level II, III, IV, or V, of the Executive Schedule, shall terminate.

(Pub. L. 107–296, title XV, §1513, Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2311.)

#### Editorial Notes

#### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original "this Act", meaning Pub. L. 107–296, Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2135, known as the Homeland Security Act of 2002, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 101 of this title and Tables.

Levels II, III, IV, and V, of the Executive Schedule, referred to in text, are set out in sections 5313, 5314, 5315, and 5316, respectively, of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

### §554. National identification system not authorized

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to authorize the development of a national identification system or card.

(Pub. L. 107–296, title XV, §1514, Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2311.)

#### Editorial Notes

#### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original "this Act", meaning Pub. L. 107–296, Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2135, known as the Homeland Security Act of 2002, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 101 of this title and Tables.

### §555. Continuity of Inspector General oversight

Notwithstanding the transfer of an agency to the Department pursuant to this chapter, the Inspector General that exercised oversight of such agency prior to such transfer shall continue to exercise oversight of such agency during the period of time, if any, between the transfer of such agency to the Department pursuant to this chapter and the appointment of the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security in accordance with section 113(b) of this title.

(Pub. L. 107–296, title XV, §1515, Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2311.)

#### Editorial Notes

#### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original "this Act", meaning Pub. L. 107–296, Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2135, known as the Homeland Security Act of 2002, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 101 of this title and Tables.

### §556. Incidental transfers

The Director of the Office of Management and Budget, in consultation with the Secretary, is authorized and directed to make such additional incidental dispositions of personnel, assets, and liabilities held, used, arising from, available, or to be made available, in connection with the functions transferred by this chapter, as the Director may determine necessary to accomplish the purposes of this chapter.

(Pub. L. 107–296, title XV, §1516, Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2311.)

#### Editorial Notes

#### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original "this Act", meaning Pub. L. 107–296, Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2135, known as the Homeland Security Act of 2002, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 101 of this title and Tables.

### §557. Reference

With respect to any function transferred by or under this chapter (including under a reorganization plan that becomes effective under section 542 of this title) and exercised on or after the effective date of this chapter, reference in any other Federal law to any department, commission, or agency or any officer or office the functions of which are so transferred shall be deemed to refer to the Secretary, other official, or component of the Department to which such function is so transferred.

(Pub. L. 107–296, title XV, §1517, Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2311.)

#### Editorial Notes

#### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original "this Act", meaning Pub. L. 107–296, Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2135, known as the Homeland Security Act of 2002, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 101 of this title and Tables.

The effective date of this chapter, referred to in text, is 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 this title.