Filling vacancies

§ 3315. Filling vacancies (a) When the office of a postmaster becomes vacant, the appointment of a regular postmaster shall be made without delay. In the interim the Postmaster General may— (1) continue the post office, under the name of the former postmaster, by the assistant postmaster or other employee or the post office; or (2) in the case of a third or fourth class post office, place the office under the charge of a suitable person, pending appointment of a regular or acting postmaster; or (3) place the post office under the charge of a postal inspector or other special agent; or (4) appoint an acting postmaster. (b) Acting postmasters appointed under this section may not serve more than six months from the date of their designation, unless the Postmaster General extends the period of service with the permission of the Civil Service Commission. (c) Acting postmasters may be appointed by the Postmaster General in accordance with the Civil Service act, rules, and regulations to serve during military leave of the regular postmaster granted pursuant to section 3317 of this title.