6 U.S.C. § 455 (2024)
This is the official text of 6 U.S.C. § 455 (2024), part of Federal (US Code)’s United States Code — the codified general and permanent federal statutes of the United States, organized into more than 50 numbered titles by subject.
Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
Miscellaneous authorities
Official statutory text
(a) Seal
The Department shall have a seal, whose design is subject to the approval of the President.
(b) Participation of members of the Armed Forces
With respect to the Department, the Secretary shall have the same authorities that the Secretary of Transportation has with respect to the Department of Transportation under section 324 of title 49.
(c) Redelegation of functions
Unless otherwise provided in the delegation or by law, any function delegated under this chapter may be redelegated to any subordinate.
(d) Investigation of certain violent acts, shootings, and mass killings
(1) In general
At the request of an appropriate law enforcement official of a State or political subdivision, the Secretary, through deployment of the Secret Service or United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, may assist in the investigation of violent acts and shootings occurring in a place of public use, and in the investigation of mass killings and attempted mass killings. Any assistance provided by the Secretary under this subsection shall be presumed to be within the scope of Federal office or employment.
(2) Definitions
For purposes of this subsection—
(A) the term "mass killings" means 3 or more killings in a single incident; and
(B) the term "place of public use" has the meaning given that term under section 2332f(e)(6) of title 18.
(Pub. L. 107–296, title VIII, §875, Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2244; Pub. L. 112–265, §2(b), Jan. 14, 2013, 126 Stat. 2435.)
Editorial Notes
References in Text
This chapter, referred to in subsec. (c), 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
2013—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 112–265 added subsec (d).
The Department shall have a seal, whose design is subject to the approval of the President.
(b) Participation of members of the Armed Forces
With respect to the Department, the Secretary shall have the same authorities that the Secretary of Transportation has with respect to the Department of Transportation under section 324 of title 49.
(c) Redelegation of functions
Unless otherwise provided in the delegation or by law, any function delegated under this chapter may be redelegated to any subordinate.
(d) Investigation of certain violent acts, shootings, and mass killings
(1) In general
At the request of an appropriate law enforcement official of a State or political subdivision, the Secretary, through deployment of the Secret Service or United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, may assist in the investigation of violent acts and shootings occurring in a place of public use, and in the investigation of mass killings and attempted mass killings. Any assistance provided by the Secretary under this subsection shall be presumed to be within the scope of Federal office or employment.
(2) Definitions
For purposes of this subsection—
(A) the term "mass killings" means 3 or more killings in a single incident; and
(B) the term "place of public use" has the meaning given that term under section 2332f(e)(6) of title 18.
(Pub. L. 107–296, title VIII, §875, Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2244; Pub. L. 112–265, §2(b), Jan. 14, 2013, 126 Stat. 2435.)
Editorial Notes
References in Text
This chapter, referred to in subsec. (c), 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
2013—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 112–265 added subsec (d).
Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site
Need a lawyer in Federal (US Code)?
Find a Federal (US Code) lawyer
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the
Open US Law dataset
(Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine
(Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.