§ 2153. Civilian personnel
Any officer or agency head may—
(1)
appoint civilian personnel without regard to section
5331
(b) of title
5, United States Code, and without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service; and
(2)
fix the rate of basic pay for such personnel without regard to the provisions of chapter
51 and subchapter
III of chapter
53 of title
5, United States Code, relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates,
except that no individual so appointed may receive pay in excess of the annual rate of basic pay payable for GS–18 of the General Schedule, as the President deems appropriate to carry out this Act [sections
2061 to
2170,
2171, and
2172 of this Appendix].