§ 261. During war or threat to national security(a) The President, through any agency of the Department of Defense designated by him, may arm, have armed, or allow to be armed, any watercraft or aircraft that is capable of being used as a means of transportation on, over, or under water, and is documented, registered, or licensed under the laws of the United States. (b) This section applies during a war and at any other time when the President determines that the security of the United States is threatened by the application, or the imminent danger of application, of physical force by any foreign government or agency against the United States, its citizens, the property of its citizens, or their commercial interests. (c) Section 16 of the Act of March 4, 1909 (22 U.S.C. 463) does not apply to vessels armed under this section. (Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 16, § 351; Pub. L. 96–513, title V, § 511(12), Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2921; renumbered § 261, Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title XII, § 1241(a)(2), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2497.)

Historical and Revision Notes
Revised section	Source (U.S. Code)	Source (Statutes at Large)
351(a)	50:481 (1st sentence, less 1st 7 words).	June 29, 1948, ch. 715, 62 Stat. 1095.
351(b)	50:481 (1st 7 words of 1st sentence and 2d sentence).
351(c)	50:481 (less 1st and 2d sentences).

In subsection (a), the wording of the special definition of “vessel” and “American vessel”, contained in section 16 of the Neutrality Act of 1939, 54 Stat. 12 (22 U.S.C. 456), is substituted for the words “any American vessel as defined in the Neutrality Act of 1939”.

In subsection (b), the words “or national emergency” are omitted, since the words of the source statute defining that term have been substituted for it.

In subsection (c), the words “(relating to bonds from armed vessels on clearing)” are omitted as surplusage.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 261 was renumbered section 241 of this title.

Another prior section 261, act Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 10, which named the reserve components of the armed forces, was repealed by Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title XVI, §§ 1661(a)(2)(A), 1691, Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2979, 3026, effective Dec. 1, 1994. See sections 10101 and 10213 of this title.

Prior sections 262 to 265 were repealed by Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title XVI, §§ 1661(a)(2)(A), 1691, Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2979, 3026, effective Dec. 1, 1994.

Section 262, acts Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 10; Dec. 1, 1967, Pub. L. 90–168, § 2(5), 81 Stat. 521, related to purpose of reserve components. See section 10102 of this title.

Section 263, act Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 11, related to basic policy for ordering Army National Guard of the United States and Air National Guard of the United States into Federal service. See section 10103 of this title.

Section 264, acts Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 11; Dec. 1, 1967, Pub. L. 90–168, § 2(6), 81 Stat. 521; Nov. 19, 1969, Pub. L. 91–121, title III, § 303, 83 Stat. 206; Oct. 20, 1978, Pub. L. 95–485, title IV, § 406(a), 92 Stat. 1616; Oct. 19, 1984, Pub. L. 98–525, title XIV, § 1405(7)(A), (B), 98 Stat. 2622, authorized Secretaries of each armed force to designate officers to be responsible for reserve affairs and assigned responsibility for providing personnel and logistic support for reserves. See sections 10203 and 18501 of this title.

Section 265, act Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 11, related to participation of reserve officers in preparation and administration of policies and regulations affecting reserve components. See section 10211 of this title.

Prior section 266 was renumbered section 12643 of this title.

Prior sections 267 to 270 were repealed by Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title XVI, §§ 1661(a)(2)(A), 1691, Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2979, 3026, effective Dec. 1, 1994.

Section 267, act Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 12, related to placement and status of members of Ready Reserve, Standby Reserve, and Retired Reserve. See section 10141(a), (b) of this title.

Section 268, acts Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 12; Sept. 2, 1958, Pub. L. 85–861, § 1(3), 72 Stat. 1437; Dec. 1, 1967, Pub. L. 90–168, § 2(8), 81 Stat. 522; Oct. 12, 1982, Pub. L. 97–295, § 1(5), 96 Stat. 1289, related to composition, organization, and structure of Ready Reserve. See sections 10142 and 10143 of this title.

Section 269, acts Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 12; Sept. 2, 1958, Pub. L. 85–861, § 1(4), 72 Stat. 1437; June 30, 1960, Pub. L. 86–559, § 1(2)(A), 74 Stat. 264; Dec. 1, 1967, Pub. L. 90–168, § 2(9), 81 Stat. 522; Oct. 20, 1978, Pub. L. 95–485, title IV, § 405(a)(1), 92 Stat. 1615; Sept. 24, 1983, Pub. L. 98–94, title X, § 1018, 97 Stat. 669; Sept. 29, 1988, Pub. L. 100–456, div. A, title XII, § 1234(a)(1), 102 Stat. 2059, related to placement in and transfer from Ready Reserve. See sections 10145 and 10146 of this title.

Section 270, added Pub. L. 85–861, § 1(5)(A), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1438; amended Pub. L. 87–378, § 2, Oct. 4, 1961, 75 Stat. 807; Pub. L. 88–110, § 4, Sept. 3, 1963, 77 Stat. 136; Pub. L. 90–168, § 2(10), Dec. 1, 1967, 81 Stat. 523; Pub. L. 92–156, title III, § 303(a), Nov. 17, 1971, 85 Stat. 425; Pub. L. 96–513, title V, § 511(7), Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2920; Pub. L. 100–456, div. A, title XII, § 1234(a)(2), Sept. 29, 1988, 102 Stat. 2059; Pub. L. 101–189, div. A, title V, § 501(b), Nov. 29, 1989, 103 Stat. 1435, related to training requirements of Ready Reserve. See sections 10147 and 10148 of this title.

Amendments

2016—Pub. L. 114–328 renumbered section 351 of this title as this section.

1980—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 96–513 substituted “Section 16 of the Act of March 4, 1909 (22 U.S.C. 463)” for “Section 463 of title 22”.

Effective Date of 1980 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 96–513 effective Dec. 12, 1980, see section 701(b)(3) of Pub. L. 96–513, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.