---
type: "LegalText"
title: "5 U.S.C. § 578"
description: "Authority of the arbitrator"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 5
title_name: "GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES"
chapter_number: "5"
chapter_name: "ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE"
section: "578"
citation: "5 U.S.C. § 578"
status: "current"
release_point: "119-100"
release_date: "2026-06-26"
source: "official"
source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc05@119-100.zip"
source_identifier: "/us/usc/t5/s578"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-05/usc05.xml"
source_hash: "dd0241106c6fbb19ef1c4537cf17a0e256c149599afe33cad5c8952fb1e76eb8"
raw_snapshot_hash: "719fdb18e7085aede50e1e97c1c129fa6058e2c5c12b3d77a9b9044b1769e540"
text_hash: "8611c1fab0ff5b5f6f0e73610b8a08b85964f2d31f96c7f815fabbd6ed6cbdbf"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---

# 5 U.S.C. § 578 - Authority of the arbitrator

## Text

An arbitrator to whom a dispute is referred under this subchapter may—

(1) regulate the course of and conduct arbitral hearings;

(2) administer oaths and affirmations;

(3) compel the attendance of witnesses and production of evidence at the hearing under the provisions of section 7 of title 9 only to the extent the agency involved is otherwise authorized by law to do so; and

(4) make awards.

(Added Pub. L. 101–552, § 4(b), Nov. 15, 1990, 104 Stat. 2742, § 588; renumbered § 578, Pub. L. 102–354, § 3(b)(2), Aug. 26, 1992, 106 Stat. 944.)

## Notes

Editorial Notes

Amendments1992—Pub. L. 102–354 renumbered section 588 of this title as this section.