§ 2388

Activities affecting armed forces during war

Up to 20 years Espionage & National Security None sentenced (FY2025) Ch. 115 · Treason, Sedition, and Subversive Activities

Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term

(a) Whoever, when the United States is at war, makes or conveys false reports or false statements with intent to interfere with the operation or success of the military or naval forces of the United States or to promote the success of its enemies; or

Whoever, when the United States is at war, causes or to cause insubordination, disloyalty, mutiny, or refusal of duty, in the military or naval forces of the United States, or obstructs the recruiting or enlistment service of the United States, to the injury of the service or the United States, or to do so—

Shall be or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.

(b) If two or more persons conspire to violate subsection (a) of this section and one or more such persons do any act to effect the object of the , each of the parties to such shall be punished as provided in said subsection (a).

(c) Whoever harbors or conceals any person who he knows, or has reasonable grounds to believe or suspect, has committed, or is about to commit, an offense under this section, shall be or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.

(d)

This section shall apply within the admiralty and maritime jurisdiction of the United States, and on the high seas, as well as within the United States.

History: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 811 (PDF, 39 MB); Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(L), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147 (PDF, 52 MB).)

Simplified explanation

It is a federal crime, while the United States is at war, to willfully spread false reports meant to hurt the military or help enemies, to cause disloyalty or mutiny in the armed forces, or to obstruct military recruiting. Conspiring to do so, or hiding someone you know or suspect has committed or is about to commit such a crime, is also a crime.