# 42 U.S.C. § 205: Appointment and tenure of office of Surgeon General; reversion in rank

> Federal · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s205

## Section

- **Citation:** 42 U.S.C. § 205
- **Heading:** Appointment and tenure of office of Surgeon General; reversion in rank
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** September 9, 2026
- **Source:** Publisher's official text
- **Location:** Title 42—THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE > CHAPTER 6A—PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE > SUBCHAPTER I—ADMINISTRATION AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS > Part A—Administration

## Text

The Surgeon General shall be appointed from the Regular Corps for a four-year term by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Surgeon General shall be appointed from individuals who (1) are members of the Regular Corps, and (2) have specialized training or significant experience in public health programs. Upon the expiration of such term the Surgeon General, unless reappointed, shall revert to the grade and number in the Regular Corps or Ready Reserve Corps that he would have occupied had he not served as Surgeon General.

( July 1, 1944, ch. 373 , title II, § 204, 58 Stat. 684 ; Pub. L. 97–25, title III, § 303(a) , July 27, 1981 , 95 Stat. 145 ; Pub. L. 97–35, title XXVII, § 2765(b) , Aug. 13, 1981 , 95 Stat. 932 ; Pub. L. 116–136, div. A, title III, § 3214(e)(1) , Mar. 27, 2020 , 134 Stat. 373 .)

## Nearby sections

- [42 U.S.C. § 202 Administration and supervision of Service](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s202.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 203 Organization of Service](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s203.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 204 Commissioned Corps and Ready Reserve Corps](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s204.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 204a Deployment readiness](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s204a.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 205 Appointment and tenure of office of Surgeon General; reversion in rank](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s205.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 206 Assignment of officers](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s206.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 207 Grades, ranks, and titles of commissioned corps](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s207.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 208 Repealed. Feb. 28, 1948, ch. 83, § 5(a) , 62 Stat. 40](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s208.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 209 Appointment of personnel](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s209.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 209a, 209b Omitted](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s209a%20_us_usc_t42_s209b.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 209c Repealed. Pub. L. 87–649, § 14b , Sept. 7, 1962 , 76 Stat. 499](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s209c.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 209d Appointment of osteopaths as commissioned officers](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s209d.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 210 Pay and allowances](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s210.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 210–1 Annual and sick leave](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s210%E2%80%931.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s205. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.