# 49 CFR § 1.26: General Counsel

> Federal · Regulations · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-49-1.26

## Section

- **Citation:** 49 CFR § 1.26
- **Heading:** General Counsel
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Regulations
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** September 22, 2026
- **Source:** Publisher's official text
- **Location:** Title 49—Transportation > Subtitle A—Office of the Secretary of Transportation > PART 1—ORGANIZATION AND DELEGATION OF POWERS AND DUTIES > Subpart B—Office of the Secretary > OST Officials

## Text

The General Counsel is the chief legal officer of the Department, legal advisor to the Secretary, and final authority within the Department on questions of law. The Office of the General Counsel provides legal advice to the Secretary and secretarial offices, and supervision, coordination, and review of the legal work of the Chief Counsel Offices in the Department. The General Counsel participates with each Operating Administrator in the performance reviews of Chief Counsel. The General Counsel is responsible for retention of outside counsel, and for the approval of the hiring and promotion of departmental attorneys (other than in the Federal Aviation Administration). The General Counsel is also responsible for departmental regulation under statutes including the Air Carrier Access Act, statutes prohibiting unfair and deceptive practices in air transportation, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program, and the Uniform Time Act. The General Counsel coordinates all international legal matters, and departmental participation in proceedings before other federal and state agencies. The General Counsel provides oversight of departmental litigation, regulation, legislation, Freedom of Information Act compliance, and administrative enforcement.

## Nearby sections

- [49 CFR § 1.20 § 1.20 Secretary of Transportation.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-49-1.20.md)
- [49 CFR § 1.21 § 1.21 Reservations of Authority to the Secretary of Transportation.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-49-1.21.md)
- [49 CFR § 1.22 § 1.22 Deputy Secretary.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-49-1.22.md)
- [49 CFR § 1.23 § 1.23 Delegations to the Deputy Secretary.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-49-1.23.md)
- [49 CFR § 1.24 § 1.24 Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-49-1.24.md)
- [49 CFR § 1.25 § 1.25 Delegations to the Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-49-1.25.md)
- [49 CFR § 1.25a § 1.25a Redelegations by the Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-49-1.25a.md)
- [49 CFR § 1.26 § 1.26 General Counsel.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-49-1.26.md)
- [49 CFR § 1.27 § 1.27 Delegations to the General Counsel.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-49-1.27.md)
- [49 CFR § 1.27a § 1.27a Delegations to the Career Deputy General Counsel.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-49-1.27a.md)
- [49 CFR § 1.27b § 1.27b Delegations to the Assistant General Counsel for General Law.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-49-1.27b.md)
- [49 CFR § 1.30 § 1.30 Assistant Secretaries.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-49-1.30.md)
- [49 CFR § 1.31 § 1.31 Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-49-1.31.md)
- [49 CFR § 1.32 § 1.32 Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-49-1.32.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-49-1.26. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.