5 U.S.C. § 9204: Adverse action

(a) First Violation.—If the Director of the Office of Personnel Management determines, after notice and an opportunity for a hearing on the record, that an employee of an agency has violated section 9202, the Director shall—(1) issue to the employee a written warning that includes a description of the violation and the additional penalties that may apply for subsequent violations; and (2) file such warning in the employee’s official personnel record file. (b) Subsequent Violations.—If the Director of the Office of Personnel Management determines, after notice and an opportunity for a hearing on the record, that an employee that was subject to subsection (a) has committed a subsequent violation of section 9202, the Director may take the following action:(1) For a second violation, suspension of the employee for a period of not more than 7 days. (2) For a third violation, suspension of the employee for a period of more than 7 days. (3) For a fourth violation—(A) suspension of the employee for a period of more than 7 days; and (B) a civil penalty against the employee in an amount that is not more than $250. (4) For a fifth violation—(A) suspension of the employee for a period of more than 7 days; and (B) a civil penalty against the employee in an amount that is not more than $500. (5) For any subsequent violation—(A) suspension of the employee for a period of more than 7 days; and (B) a civil penalty against the employee in an amount that is not more than $1,000.