Reversed and remanded by published opinion. Judge King wrote the opinion, in which Judge Widener joined. Judge Seymour wrote an opinion concurring in part and dissenting in part.
OPINION
KING, Circuit Judge:
This appeal arises from a civil suit initiated by the Government in November 1999 in the District of Maryland, on behalf of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (“FEMA”), against Bankers Insurance Company. In its Complaint, the Government asserts three common law theories of recovery, plus a separate statutory claim under the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. §§ 3729-3733 (“FCA”). Bankers sought to stay the litigation proceedings pending arbitration, but the district court denied its stay request. Bankers has appealed the district court’s ruling pursuant to 9 U.S.C. § 16(a)(1)(A) (authorizing interlocutory appeals to review denials of motions to stay proceedings pending arbitration). For the reasons explained below, we reverse and remand.
I.
A.
Bankers is a private insurance company that sells and administers flood insurance policies through the National Flood Insurance Program (“NFIP”).1 In 1983, the Federal Insurance Administration (“FIA”), which is charged by FEMA with administration of the NFIP, see 44 C.F.R. § 2.31 (1999), established the Write-Your-Own (‘WYO”) program, under which commercial insurance companies sell and administer flood insurance policies to the public. See 44 C.F.R. § 62.23 (1999). Bankers has been a participant (an “insurer” and a “WYO Company”) in the WYO program since its inception, when Bankers entered into a Financial Assistance/Subsidy Arrangement (“Arrangement”) with FEMA [318]*318and the FIA. According to the Complaint, Bankers and the Government renewed the Arrangement annually from 1984 until 1997. The Arrangement, which tracks a form agreement promulgated and mandated by FEMA in the Code of Federal Regulations, governs the terms and conditions of all WYO program insurers in their sale and administration of federal flood insurance. See 44 C.F.R. § 62 app. A. Of significance to this appeal, both the Arrangement and the C.F.R. form agreement contain the following arbitration provision:
Article VIII — Arbitration
If any misunderstanding or dispute arises between the Company [Bankers] and the FIA with reference to any factual issue under any provisions of this Arrangement ... such misunderstanding or dispute may be submitted to arbitration for a determination [that] shall be binding upon approval by the FIA.
Id. and J.A. 42.
In its Complaint, the Government has sued Bankers for a variety of alleged contract breaches stemming from a course of conduct beginning in fiscal year 1989 and lasting until September 1997. The Complaint asserts, inter alia, that Bankers failed to turn over to the Government all interest earned on NFIP funds under the Arrangement, and also that Bankers failed to provide the FIA with true and accurate information regarding administration of the NFIP and the interest earned on NFIP funds. The four bases for recovery embodied in the Complaint are: violation of the False Claims Act (Count I), breach of contract (Count II), negligent misrepresentation (Count III), and unjust enrichment (Count IV).2 Bankers responded to the Complaint by filing its motion to stay the proceedings pending arbitration under Article VIII of the Arrangement. The district court, by letter opinion of March 14, 2000 (the “Order”), denied the stay request and allowed the Government’s suit to proceed without arbitration of its claims.
In the Order, the district court correctly observed that, “as a general proposition, there is a ‘heavy presumption of arbitrability.’ ” Order, at 1 (citing American Recovery Corp. v. Computerized Thermal Imaging, Inc., 96 F.3d 88, 92 (4th Cir.1996)). The court ruled, however, that traditional principles governing arbitration have no application to a “suit brought by a federal agency asserting, inter alia, a claim under the False Claims Act.” Order, at 1. While this appeal appears to present a question of first impression — whether the existence of an FCA claim precludes arbitration of a contract dispute involving the Government — we address this issue with substantial guidance. The federal courts have on numerous occasions spoken on issues relating to arbitration and the obligations of the Government when it enters into contracts with private parties.
B.
Bankers advances several contentions in support of its position that the arbitration provision contained in the Arrangement is binding in this case. First, Bankers asserts that the applicable authorities prescribe that arbitration clauses similar to that in this case — clauses that speak permissively (i.e., “may be submitted to arbitration”) — are in fact typically construed as mandatory arbitration clauses. Second, Bankers contends that the district court [319]*319erred when it ignored the “heavy presumption of arbitrability” simply because this litigation involves the assertion of an FCA claim. Finally, Bankers stresses that, since all claims in the Complaint arise from the Arrangement, each (including the FCA claim) must be submitted to arbitration pursuant to the arbitration agreement.
The Government counters by echoing the reasoning of the district court, and it revives an argument presented to — but not addressed by — the court below: sovereign immunity. The Government contends that sovereign immunity precludes application of the arbitration agreement absent the Government’s current consent to arbitrate. Additionally, the Government’s opposition to arbitration is premised on the permissive nature of the arbitration provision and the NFIA’s specific statutory prohibition against binding arbitration.3 Finally, the Government asserts that since the Attorney General was not a party to the Arrangement, he cannot be bound to arbitrate an FCA claim arising thereunder.
II.
Under the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”), a court is required to stay “any suit or proceeding” pending the arbitration of “any issue referable to arbitration under an agreement in writing for such arbitration.” 9 U.S.C. § 3.4 Because ascertaining the scope of an arbitration agreement is primarily a task of contract interpretation, we review de novo a district court’s determination of the arbitrability of a dispute. See Cara’s Notions, Inc. v. Hallmark Cards, Inc., 140 F.3d 566, 569 (4th Cir.1998). However, “in applying [common law] principles of contract interpretation to the interpretation of an arbitration agreement within the scope of the [FAA], due regard must be given to the federal policy favoring arbitration, and ambiguities as to the scope of the arbitration clause itself resolved in favor of arbitration.” Volt Info. Sciences, Inc. v. Bd. of Trustees of Leland Stanford Jr. Univ., 489 U.S. 468, 475-76, 109 S.Ct. 1248, 103 L.Ed.2d 488 (1989) (internal citations omitted); see also Moses H. Cone Mem’l Hosp. v. Mercury Constr. Corp., 460 U.S. 1, 24-25, 103 S.Ct. 927, 74 L.Ed.2d 765 (1983) (“[A]ny doubts concerning the scope of arbitrable issues should be resolved in favor of arbitration[.]”). If the issues in the case are within the contemplation of the arbitration agreement, the FAA’s stay-of-litigation provision is mandatory, and there is no discretion vested in the district court to deny the stay. In re Complaint of Hornbeck Offshore Corp., 981 F.2d 752, 754 (5th Cir.1993); see also Hooters of Am., Inc. v. Phillips, 173 F.3d 933, 937 (4th Cir.1999).
III.
The Government first contends that it has not waived its sovereign immunity, and therefore it cannot be forced to engage in the arbitration process contemplated in the Arrangement. We see the Government’s reliance on the doctrine of sovereign immunity as misplaced, and in these circumstances it borders on frivolous. The Government prepared the terms of the Arrangement — including its [320]*320arbitration provision — and imposed them, through its WYO program, on Bankers.5 The Government now purports not to be bound by its own words, leaving it free to litigate at its whim. Sovereign immunity is not a sword, but a shield; and as a shield it means simply that “the United States cannot be sued at all without the consent of Congress.” Block v. North Dakota, 461 U.S. 273, 287, 103 S.Ct. 1811, 75 L.Ed.2d 840 (1983). Sovereign immunity does not permit the Government to sue a third party and then pick and choose the judicial constraints and contractual obligations with which it will abide. See Guaranty Trust Co. v. United States, 304 U.S. 126, 134, 58 S.Ct. 785, 82 L.Ed. 1224 (1938) (“By voluntarily appearing in the role of suitor [the sovereign] abandons its immunity from suit and subjects itself to the procedure and rules of decision governing the forum which it has sought.”).6
Put simply, the doctrine of sovereign immunity is not in any way implicated or threatened by the Government’s compliance with its contract obligations. When the Government chooses to seek damages in a civil action, it — like all parties — should abide by the law, including an arbitration process to which it is contractually bound.
Because sovereign immunity does not apply here, our ultimate question is simply phrased: Must the Government comply with its contract responsibilities under the arbitration agreement in the Arrangement? In addressing this question we focus on and analyze several issues.
First of all, the arbitration agreement in question does not specify that arbitration must occur, but instead uses permissive language (“[any] such misunderstanding or dispute may be submitted to arbitration”) (emphasis added). The use of the term “may” in Article VIII of the Arrangement requires us to determine whether arbitration is mandatory when it is sought prior to litigation. Second, we must decide whether the arbitration agreement is enforceable notwithstanding that the arbitration proceeding provided for — in the Arrangement and in the statutory provisions of the NFIA — is non-binding on the Government. Third, we consider whether the existence of the FCA claim precludes arbitration in this case, in light of the Attorney General’s special authority to enforce the statute.
1.
Although the arbitration provision of the Arrangement is framed in permissive terms, its use of permissive phraseology is not dispositive. In Austin v. Owens-Brockway Glass Container, Inc., 78 F.3d 875 (4th Cir.1996), we had occasion to review and interpret a similar arbitration [321]*321provision. We held that a clause providing that “disputes ... may be referred to arbitration” has the effect of giving “an aggrieved party the choice between arbitration and abandonment of his claim, [i.e.J he ‘may’ either arbitrate or abandon the claim.” Id at 879. As Judge Widener properly observed, the contrary interpretation “would render the arbitration provision meaningless for all practical purposes!,]” since parties “could always voluntarily submit[ ] to arbitration^]” Id
Second, other courts have had the opportunity to construe comparable “permissive” arbitration agreements and have reached similar conclusions. See American Italian Pasta Co. v. Austin Co., 914 F.2d 1103, 1104 (8th Cir.1990) (holding the phrase “if both parties agree” to be a mandatory arbitration provision); Ceres Marine Terminals, Inc. v. Int’l Longshoremen’s Ass’n, 683 F.2d 242, 246-47 (7th Cir.1982) (“may refer the grievance to arbitration” is mandatory); Local 771, I.A.T.S.E. v. RKO Gen., Inc., 546 F.2d 1107, 1116 (2d Cir.1977) (“may submit to arbitration” is mandatory); Bonnot v. Cong. of Indep. Unions Local # 14, 331 F.2d 355, 359 (8th Cir.1964) (Blackmun, J.) (“The obvious purpose of the ‘may’ language is to give an aggrieved party the choice between arbitration or the abandonment of its claim.”).
It is well settled that, when the United States is a party to a contract, ordinary principles governing contracts and their interpretation remain applicable. See Lynch v. United States, 292 U.S. 571, 579, 54 S.Ct. 840, 78 L.Ed. 1434 (1934). Indeed, the Supreme Court recently reaffirmed this principle in United States v. Winstar Corp., 518 U.S. 839, 895, 116 S.Ct. 2432, 135 L.Ed.2d 964 (1996). As Justice Souter succinctly stated: “[W]hen the United States enters into contract relations, its rights and duties therein are governed generally by the law applicable to contracts between private individuals.” Id. (quoting Lynch, 292 U.S. at 579, 54 S.Ct. 840). Our decision in Austin was premised on the ordinary principles of contract interpretation referred to by the Court in Winstar, which apply regardless of the identity of the parties to the arbitration agreement. We have no reason not to apply those principles in this case.7
2.
In asserting that the arbitration agreement should not be applied here, the Government also points out that the NFIA specifically precludes arbitration that is binding on the Government. See 42 U.S.C. § 4083(b). An arbitration agreement under the NFIA is therefore non-binding— the FIA Director must approve an arbitration “award, decision, or recommendation” before it is permitted to “become final[.]” Id Hence, the Government claims that the arbitration agreement embodied in the Arrangement should not be enforced because it will not resolve its dispute with Bankers.
In addressing this contention, we first observe that the NFIA does not preclude mandatory arbitration; it only pre-[322]*322eludes arbitration from being binding on the Government. Mandatory arbitration, as a prerequisite to initiation of litigation, and binding arbitration, where the parties must accept an award or decision of the arbitrator, are two different things. Although non-binding arbitration may turn out to be a futile exercise — because the FIA can ultimately reject an arbitrator’s decision — this fact does not, as a legal matter, preclude a non-binding arbitration agreement from being enforced. See Wolsey, Ltd. v. Foodmaker, Inc., 144 F.3d 1205, 1209 (9th Cir.1998) (holding nonbinding arbitration clause to be enforceable); AMF Inc. v. Brunswick Corp., 621 F.Supp. 456, 461 (E.D.N.Y.1985) (court could compel the parties to submit their dispute to third party for an advisory nonbinding opinion under the FAA). The Government, however, contests this point also, asserting that non-binding arbitration unlikely or unable to resolve the issue fully is, by its very nature, unenforceable. See Brennan v. King, 139 F.3d 258, 265 (1st Cir.1998) (refusing to enforce arbitration clause because arbitrator lacked authority to resolve “substantive” issues dividing the parties and because, even if the arbitrator were able to resolve the issue in the employee’s favor, the employer could reject the decision).
Whether an agreement to enter into a non-binding arbitration process is enforceable under the FAA is a matter not well-settled in the federal courts, and we have not yet directly addressed the question. See Wolsey, 144 F.3d at 1208-09 (noting that issue is unsettled, but favoring the view that “the FAA applies to non-binding arbitration”). Some courts have chosen to focus on whether the arbitration process is likely to resolve the issues, and whether the parties “agree not to pursue litigation 'until the process is completed.’ ” Id. (quoting Harrison v. Nissan Motor Corp., 111 F.3d 343, 350 (3d Cir.1997)). In evaluating a similar issue, Judge Weinstein observed, “The arbitrator’s decision need not be binding ... [as long as there are] reasonable commercial expectations [that] the dispute will be settled by this arbitration.” AMF Inc., 621 F.Supp. at 460-61.
The foregoing discussion, however, simply emphasizes the unusual nature of the circumstances underlying this appeal. On the one hand, Bankers asserts that the arbitration process will likely resolve this case, in part because the arbitration proceeding will include the FIA. Bankers points out that the FIA has “intimate knowledge of the programs at issue,” and it is “familiar[ ] with Bankers’ practices over the years[.]” Appellant’s Reply Br., at 8. On the other hand, the Government— seeking to avoid arbitration — must believe either that arbitration will be unsuccessful or that any resort to the arbitration process weakens its bargaining position.8
The Government’s position, viewed in a pragmatic manner, makes some sense. If the Government is opposed to arbitration and can reject an arbitration award or decision, the arbitration process is unlikely to provide a resolution to this case. Cf. American Tel. & Tel. Co. v. Communication Workers of Am., AFL-CIO, 985 F.2d 855 (6th Cir.1993) (refusing to enjoin union protest activities pending non-binding arbitration, because in addition to failing to provide a resolution to the dispute, it [323]*323would delay the union’s exercise of “meaningful” activities). However, because the Government would presumably act reasonably and rationally, and would approve an arbitration award or decision that it found favorable, we are unable to conclude that arbitration proceedings would be futile.
C.
Finally, the Government contends that the arbitration agreement is unenforceable because of the peculiar nature of an FCA claim, and also because the Attorney General “was not a party” to the Arrangement. The Government argues that, as a non-party to the Arrangement, the Attorney General is not bound by the terms of the arbitration provision, in light of (1) his exclusive statutory authority to enforce the FCA9 and (2) the permissive nature of the arbitration agreement. The district court accepted this rationale, concluding that, notwithstanding the rule that arbitration agreements are to be construed liberally, the Government’s involvement as a plaintiff in this case mandated “that the arbitration provision be construed narrowly.” Order, at 1.
Because ordinary principles of contract law must be applied, the Attorney General’s involvement in this case does not mandate the result sought by the Government. First, the role of the Attorney General relates not only to his obligations under the FCA, but also to his more general obligation to bring actions on behalf of the United States in support of government agencies. See 28 U.S.C. § 516 (granting the Attorney General and the Department of Justice exclusive power to direct litigation involving the United States). At bottom, the Attorney General’s rights and responsibilities under the Arrangement are derivative of FEMA and the FIA, and he possesses no right to ignore the arbitration agreement that these agencies do not also possess.
Second, if we were to rely on the Attorney General’s presence as counsel in this litigation to allow him to ignore the arbitration agreement, we would run afoul of applicable precedent. For example, no party suing on a contract should be able to enforce certain contract provisions while simultaneously attempting to avoid the terms of an arbitration provision contained therein. See Int’l Paper Co. v. Schwabedissen Maschinen & Anlagen GMBH, 206 F.63d 411, 418 (4th Cir.2000) (holding that it would “both disregard equity and contravene [the FAA]” to allow a plaintiff “to claim the benefit of the contract and simultaneously avoid its burdens”); see also Grigson v. Creative Artists Agency, L.L.C., 210 F.8d 524, 527 (5th Cir.2000); MS Dealer Serv. Corp. v. Franklin, 177 F.3d 942, 947 (11th Cir.1999). These decisions demonstrate that, when a third party sues on a contract, any arbitration provision contained therein remains in force. We are unable to ignore this rule simply because the Attorney General serves as counsel for the Government.
The Government contends, in the alternative, that even if its three common law counts are subject to the arbitration agreement, the presence of the FCA claim gives it the right to immediately pursue litigation. This is so, the Government maintains, because of the statutory authority of [324]*324the Attorney General as the exclusive enforcer of the FCA. The district court agreed on this point, concluding that directing the Attorney General to arbitrate an FCA action would dilute his “exclusive statutory authority” to institute such a claim. This was especially true, reasoned the district court, in light of the permissive language of the arbitration provision.
As discussed supra, at Part III.B.l, our Austin decision controls the permissive-mandatory question, and the arbitration provision of the Arrangement must be read and applied in a mandatory fashion. Furthermore, the Supreme Court has recognized that civil claims based on statutory provisions are subject to arbitration when a controlling arbitration agreement exists.10 Shearson/American Express, Inc. v. McMahon, 482 U.S. 220, 226, 107 S.Ct. 2332, 96 L.Ed.2d 185 (1987) (holding statutory claims under RICO and the federal securities laws subject to arbitration). According to the Government, however, the McMahon decision does not apply because the FCA is different from other statutory claims, and resort to the arbitration process would, in this case, dilute the statutory authority of the Attorney General.11
We do not share the trepidation of the Government regarding arbitration of its FCA claim. Arbitration is not binding on the Government, and this arbitration process will not in any way dilute the Attorney General’s authority. Additionally, the Government has no special right to ignore its contract responsibilities. The Government should comply with its contract obligations, and it cannot avoid them merely by invoicing a statutory civil claim, such as one contemplated under the FCA.12 See, e.g., United States v. Carter, 454 F.2d 426, 428 (4th Cir.1972) (contract signed by an authorized official of the Government bound the entire Government, because “[t]he United States government is the United States government throughout all of the states and districts”); Harvey, 791 F.2d at 303 (4th Cir.1986) (same); see also H.F. Allen Orchards v. United States, 749 F.2d 1571, 1575 (Fed.Cir.1984) (to recover for breach of contract against Government, plaintiff must show “that the officer whose conduct is relied upon had actual authority to bind the government in contract”).
In the final analysis, the Government comes to court in the same position [325]*325as any other plaintiff, except that one of its four theories of recovery, the FCA claim, is premised on a unique statutory right. Statutory civil claims are subject to the arbitration process, and the Government has demonstrated no valid basis for placing the FCA claim in a different category. In deciding whether the arbitration agreement applies, we “must determine whether the factual allegations underlying the claim are within the scope of the arbitration clause, regardless of the legal label assigned to the claim.” J.J. Ryan & Sons, Inc. v. Rhone Poulenc Textile, S.A., 863 F.2d 315, 319 (4th Cir.1988) (citing Mitsubishi Motors Corp. v. Soler Chrysler-Plymouth, Inc., 473 U.S. 614, 622 n. 9, 105 S.Ct. 3346, 87 L.Ed.2d 444 (1985)). Whether there has been a civil violation of the FCA depends on the duties imposed on Bankers by the Arrangement, measured against its compliance thereunder. Such issues, involving civil claims for money damages, could well be fully resolved by arbitration.
Finally, where the Government has previously agreed to an arbitration process, the statutory authority of the Attorney General is not compromised by that agreement being honored. As Justice Brandéis cogently observed years ago, “In a government of laws, existence of the government will be imperiled if it fails to observe the law scrupulously. Our government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. For good or for ill, it teaches the whole people by its example.” Olmstead v. United States, 277 U.S. 438, 468, 48 S.Ct. 564, 72 L.Ed. 944 (1928) (Brandeis, J., dissenting).
IV.
Pursuant to the foregoing, we reverse the district court’s ruling, and we remand this case for entry of a stay pending arbitration of the claims asserted in the Complaint.
REVERSED AND REMANDED.