2 U.S.C. § 1361 — Generally applicable remedies and limitations

(a) Attorney’s fees. If a covered employee^* wins a claim under this chapter, or a qualified person with a disability wins a claim under section 1331 of this title, the hearing officer, Board^*, or court may award attorney’s fees, expert fees, and other appropriate costs in a proceeding under section 1405, 1406, 1407, or 1408 of this title. The award may be made to the extent it would be appropriate under section 2000e-5(k) of title 42.

(b) Interest. In a proceeding under section 1405, 1406, 1407, or 1408 of this title, interest to compensate for delayed payment must be available to the extent it would be appropriate under section 2000e-16(d) of title 42.

(c) Civil penalties and punitive damages. A civil penalty or punitive damages may not be awarded for a claim under this chapter.

(d) Exclusive procedure. (1) Unless paragraph (2) applies, a person may seek a remedy for rights and protections under this chapter in an administrative or judicial proceeding only as this chapter provides. (2) Veterans. A covered employee^* under section 1316 of this title may also use any applicable provision of chapter 43 of title 38.

(e) Construction. (1) Definitions and exemptions. Unless this chapter’s definitions or exemptions conflict with them, the definitions and exemptions in laws that this chapter makes applicable also apply here. (2) Size limitations. Despite paragraph (1), size-based coverage rules in those applicable laws—whether based on employee numbers, business volume, or another measure—do not determine coverage under this chapter. This exception does not apply to the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (29 U.S.C. 2101 et seq.). (3) Executive branch enforcement. This chapter must not be read to authorize the executive branch to enforce this chapter.