(a) Unless otherwise required by Federal statute, payments for proper charges incurred by recipients will not be withheld at any time during the grant period unless (1) the recipient has failed to comply with the program objectives, grant award conditions, or Federal reporting requirements, or (2) the recipient is indebted to the United States and collection of the indebtedness will not impair accomplishment of the objectives of any grant program sponsored by the United States, or (3) the grant is suspended pursuant to Subpart N of this part.

(b) Payments withheld for failure of a recipient to comply with reporting requirements, but without suspension of the grant, will be released to the recipient upon subsequent compliance. When a grant is suspended, payment adjustments will be made in accordance with Subpart N of this part. When a debt is to be collected, USDA awarding agencies may withhold payments or require appropriate accounting adjustments to recorded cash balances for which the recipient is accountable to the Federal government, in order to liquidate the indebtedness.