Pub. L. 85-724, tit. VI, sec. 614

Sec. 614. No funds appropriated in titles I, III, IV, and V of this Act shall be used for the payment in excess of 470,000 full-time graded civilian employees (including (a) the full-time equivalent of part-time employment, (b) persons who are described as “consultants” or who are compensated on a “when actually employed” basis if such persons are employed on a contract basis or are paid on a per diem basis, and (c) persons employed without compensation if they are reimbursed for expenses) at any one time during the current fiscal year: Provided, That whenever, in the opinion of the Secretary of the Military Department concerned, the direct substitution of civilian personnel for an equivalent or greater number of military personnel will result in economy without adverse effect upon national defense, such substitution may be accomplished without regard to the foregoing limitation, and such funds as may be required to accomplish the substitution may be transferred from the appropriate military personnel appropriation to, and merged with, the appropriation charged with compensation of such civilian personnel.