5 U.S.C. § 9204 — Adverse action

(a) First violation. After notice and a hearing on the record, if OPM’s Director finds an agency^* employee violated section 9202, the Director must (1) give a written warning describing the violation and later penalties and (2) put the warning in the employee’s official personnel file. (b) Later violations. After the same process, if an employee covered by subsection (a) commits another section 9202 violation, the Director may impose: (1) for a second violation, suspension^* of up to seven days; (2) for a third, suspension of more than seven days; (3) for a fourth, suspension of more than seven days and a civil penalty of up to $250; (4) for a fifth, suspension of more than seven days and a penalty of up to $500; and (5) for any later violation, suspension of more than seven days and a penalty of up to $1,000.