US Code

Public Law 119-83 (04/13/2026)

42 U.S.C. § 7231

Officers and employees

(a)

Authority of Secretary to appoint and fix compensation

In the performance of his functions the Secretary is authorized to appoint and fix the compensation of such officers and employees, including attorneys, as may be necessary to carry out such functions. Except as otherwise provided in this section, such officers and employees shall be appointed in accordance with the civil service laws and their compensation fixed in accordance with title 5.

(b)

Appointment of scientific, engineering, etc., personnel without regard to civil service laws; compensation; termination of authority

(1)
section 5332 of title 5 Subject to the limitations provided in paragraph (2) and to the extent the Secretary deems such action necessary to the discharge of his functions, he may appoint not more than three hundred eleven of the scientific, engineering, professional, and administrative personnel of the department without regard to the civil service laws, and may fix the compensation of such personnel not in excess of the maximum rate payable for GS–18 of the General Schedule under .
(2)
The Secretary’s authority under this subsection to appoint an individual to such a position without regard to the civil service laws shall cease—
(A)
when a person appointed, within four years after , to fill such position under paragraph (1) leaves such position, or
(B)
on the day which is four years after such date,
whichever is later.
(c)

section 3324 of title 5 Placement of GS–16, GS–17, and GS–18 positions without regard to ; termination of authority

(1)
1
1 See References in Text note below.
1 Subject to the provisions of chapter 51 of title 5 but notwithstanding the last two sentences of section 5108(a)  of such title, the Secretary may place at GS–16, GS–17, and GS–18, not to exceed one hundred seventy-eight positions of the positions subject to the limitation of the first sentence of section 5108(a)  of such title.
(2)
Appointments under this subsection may be made without regard to the provisions of sections 3324 of title 5, relating to the approval by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management of appointments under GS–16, GS–17, and GS–18 if the individual placed in such position is an individual who is transferred in connection with a transfer of functions under this chapter and who, immediately before , held a position and duties comparable to those of such position.
(3)
The Secretary’s authority under this subsection with respect to any position shall cease when the person first appointed to fill such position leaves such position.
(d)

Appointment of additional scientific, engineering, etc., personnel without regard to civil service laws; compensation

section 5108 of title 5section 5332 of title 5In addition to the number of positions which may be placed at GS–16, GS–17, and GS–18 under , under existing law, or under this chapter, and to the extent the Secretary deems such action necessary to the discharge of his functions, he may appoint not more than two hundred of the scientific, engineering, professional, and administrative personnel without regard to the civil service laws and may fix the compensation of such personnel not in excess of the maximum rate payable for GS–18 of the General Schedule under .

(e)

Determination of maximum aggregate number of positions

section 5108(a) of title 5For the purposes of determining the maximum aggregate number of positions which may be placed at GS–16, GS–17, or GS–18 under , 63 percent of the positions established under subsections (b) and (c) shall be deemed GS–16 positions, 25 percent of such positions shall be deemed GS–17 positions, and 12 percent of such positions shall be deemed GS–18.

(f)

Intelligence and intelligence-related positions exempt from competitive service

All positions in the Department which the Secretary determines are devoted to intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the United States Government are excepted from the competitive service, and the individuals who occupy such positions as of , shall, while employed in such positions, be exempt from the competitive service.

Pub. L. 95–91, title VI, § 62191 Stat. 596 92 Stat. 3784 Pub. L. 102–88, title IV, § 403105 Stat. 434 (, , ; 1978 Reorg. Plan No. 2, § 102, eff. , 43 F.R. 36037, ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 5108(a) of title 5Pub. L. 101–509, title V, § 529 [title I, § 102(b)(2)]104 Stat. 1427 , referred to in subsec. (c)(1), was amended generally by , , , 1443, and, as so amended, contains only one sentence.

Pub. L. 95–9191 Stat. 565 section 7101 of this titleThis chapter, referred to in subsecs. (c)(2) and (d), was in the original “this Act”, meaning , , , known as the Department of Energy Organization Act, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.

Codification

Pub. L. 102–88, referred to in subsec. (f), was in the original “the date of enactment of this Act”, which was translated as meaning the date of enactment of , which enacted subsec. (f) of this section, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Amendments

Pub. L. 102–881991—Subsec. (f). added subsec. (f).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

References in Other Laws to GS–16, 17, or 18 Pay Rates

Pub. L. 101–509section 5376 of Title 5References in laws to the rates of pay for GS–16, 17, or 18, or to maximum rates of pay under the General Schedule, to be considered references to rates payable under specified sections of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, see section 529 [title I, § 101(c)(1)] of , set out in a note under .

Recruitment and Direct Appointments of Highly Qualified Individuals To Meet Severe Candidate Shortages and Critical Hiring Needs

Pub. L. 117–58, div. J, title III, § 301135 Stat. 1379

section 3304 of title 5ProvidedProvided furtherProvided furtherProvided further“Notwithstanding , United States Code, and without regard to the provisions of sections 3309 through 3318 of such title 5, the Secretary of Energy, upon a determination that there is a severe shortage of candidates or a critical hiring need for particular positions to carry out the Department of Energy activities funded under this title, may, from within the funds provided to the Department of Energy under this title, recruit and directly appoint highly qualified individuals into the competitive service: , That such authority shall not apply to positions in the Excepted Service or the Senior Executive Service: , That any action authorized herein shall be consistent with the merit principles of section 2301 of such title 5, and the Department shall comply with the public notice requirements of section 3327 of such title 5: , That the authority under this section shall terminate on : , That 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act [], the Secretary of Energy shall submit to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations an estimate of the number of highly qualified individuals it expects to hire under the authority provided in this section.”
, , , provided that:

Appointments of Exceptionally Well Qualified Individuals to Scientific, Engineering, or Other Critical Technical Positions

Pub. L. 113–76, div. D, title III, § 313128 Stat. 176

“(a)

In General .—

Subject to subsections (b) through (d), the Secretary may appoint, without regard to the provisions of chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, exceptionally well qualified individuals to scientific, engineering, or other critical technical positions.
“(b)

Limitations.—

“(1)

Number of positions .—

The number of critical positions authorized by subsection (a) may not exceed 120 at any one time in the Department.
“(2)

Term .—

The term of an appointment under subsection (a) may not exceed 4 years.
“(3)

Prior employment .—

An individual appointed under subsection (a) shall not have been a Department employee during the 2-year period ending on the date of appointment.
“(4)

Pay.—

“(A)

In general .—

5 U.S.C. 5312The Secretary shall have the authority to fix the basic pay of an individual appointed under subsection (a) at a rate to be determined by the Secretary up to level I of the Executive Schedule [] without regard to the civil service laws.
“(B)

Total annual compensation .—

section 104 of title 3The total annual compensation for any individual appointed under subsection (a) may not exceed the highest total annual compensation payable at the rate determined under , United States Code.
“(5)

Adverse actions .—

An individual appointed under subsection (a) may not be considered to be an employee for purposes of subchapter II of chapter 75 of title 5, United States Code.
“(c)

Requirements.—

“(1)

In general .—

The Secretary shall ensure that—
“(A)
section 2301 of title 5 the exercise of the authority granted under subsection (a) is consistent with the merit principles of , United States Code; and
“(B)
the Department notifies diverse professional associations and institutions of higher education, including those serving the interests of women and racial or ethnic minorities that are underrepresented in scientific, engineering, and mathematical fields, of position openings as appropriate.
“(2)

Report .—

Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act [], the Secretary and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall submit to Congress a report on the use of the authority provided under this section that includes, at a minimum, a description or analysis of—
“(A)
the ability to attract exceptionally well qualified scientists, engineers, and technical personnel;
“(B)
the amount of total compensation paid each employee hired under the authority each calendar year; and
“(C)
whether additional safeguards or measures are necessary to carry out the authority and, if so, what action, if any, has been taken to implement the safeguards or measures.
“(d)

Termination of Effectiveness .—

The authority provided by this section terminates effective on the date that is 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act.”
, , , provided that:

Authority for Appointment of Certain Scientific, Engineering, and Technical Personnel

Pub. L. 103–337, div. C, title XXXI, § 3161108 Stat. 3095 Pub. L. 105–85, div. C, title XXXI, § 3139111 Stat. 2040 Pub. L. 105–261, div. C, title XXXI112 Stat. 2253 Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [div. C, title XXXI, § 3191]114 Stat. 1654 Pub. L. 107–314, div. C, title XXXI, § 3174116 Stat. 2745 section 4601 of Pub. L. 107–314Pub. L. 108–136, div. C, title XXXI, § 3141(i)(2)117 Stat. 1776 section 2701 of Title 50section 6241 of Title 10Pub. L. 119–60, div. C, title XXXI, § 3111(a)139 Stat. 1412 , , , as amended by , , ; , §§ 3152, 3155, , , 2257; , , , 1654A–480; , , , which was formerly set out as a note under this section, was renumbered by , , , and classified to , War and National Defense, and was repealed and restated as , Armed Forces, by , (b)(1), , , 1458.

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

92 Stat. 3783 section 1101 of Title 5section 1101 of Title 5“Director of the Office of Personnel Management” substituted for “Civil Service Commission” in subsec. (c)(2), pursuant to Reorg. Plan No. 2 of 1978, § 102, 43 F.R. 36037, , set out under , Government Organization and Employees, which transferred all functions vested by statute in United States Civil Service Commission to Director of Office of Personnel Management (except as otherwise specified), effective , as provided by section 1–102 of Ex. Ord. No. 12107, , 44 F.R. 1055, set out under .