Employment of Personnel.—

Sec. 625. Employment of Personnel.— (a) Any agency or officer of the United States Government carrying out functions under this Act is authorized to employ such personnel as the President deems necessary to carry out the provisions and purposes of this Act. (b) Of the personnel employed in the United States to carry out part I or coordinate part I and part II, not to exceed seventy-six may e appointed, compensated, or removed without regard to the provisions of any law, of whom not to exceed fifty-one may be compensated at rates higher than those provided for grade 15 of the general schedule established by the Classification Act of 1949, as amended (5 U.S.C. 1071 et seq.), and of these, not to exceed eight may be compensated at a rate m excess of the highest rate provided for grades of such general schedule but not in excess of $19,000 per year: Provided, That, under such regulations as the President shall prescribe, officers and employees of the United States Government who are appointed to any of the above positions may be entitled, upon removal from such position, to reinstatement to the position occupied at the time of appointment or to a position of comparable grade and 75 Stat. 450salary. Such positions shall be in addition to those authorized by law to be filled by Presidential appointment, and in addition to the number authorized by section 505 of the Classification Act of 1949, as amended. (c) Of the personnel employed in the United States to carry out part II, not to exceed eight may be compensated at rates higher than those provided for grade 15 of the general schedule established by the Classification Act of 1949, as amended, and of these, not to exceed three may be compensated at a rate in excess of the highest rate provided for grades of such general schedule but not in excess of $19,000 per year. Such positions shall be in addition to those authorized by law to be filled by Presidential appointment, and in addition to the number authorized by section 505 of the Classification Act of 1949, as amended. (d) For the purpose of performing functions under this Act outside the United States the President may— (1) employ or assign persons, or authorize the employment or assignment of officers or employees by agencies of the United States Government, who shall receive compensation at any of the rates provided for the Foreign Service Reserve and Staff by the Foreign Service Act of 1946, as amended (22 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), together with allowances and benefits thereunder; and persons so employed or assigned shall be entitled, except to the extent that the President may specify otherwise in cases in which the period of employment or assignment exceeds thirty months, to the same benefits as are provided by section 528 of that Act for persons appointed to the Foreign Service Reserve, and the provisions of section 1005 of that Act shall apply in the case of such persons, except that policymaking officials shall not be subject to that part of section 1005 of that Act which prohibits political tests; and (2) utilize such authority, including authority to appoint and assign personnel for the duration of operations under this Act, contained in the Foreign Service Act of 1946, as amended, as the President deems necessary to carry out functions under this Act; and such provisions of the Foreign Service Act of 1946, as amended, as the President deems appropriate shall apply to personnel appointed or assigned under this paragraph, including in all cases the provisions of section 528 of that Act: Provided, however, That the President may by regulation make exceptions to the application of section 528 in cases in which the period of the appointment or assignment exceeds thirty months: Provided further, That Foreign Service Reserve officers appointed or assigned pursuant to this paragraph shall receive within-class salary increases in accordance with such regulations as the President may prescribe. (e) The President is authorized to prescribe by regulation standards or other criteria for maintaining adequate performance levels for personnel appointed or assigned pursuant to paragraph (2) of subsection (d) of this section and section 527(c)(2) of the Mutual Security Act of 1954, as amended, and may, notwithstanding any other law, but subject to an appropriate administrative appeal, separate employees who fail to meet such standards or other criteria, and also may grant such personnel severance benefits of one month’s salary for each year’s service, but not to exceed one year’s salary at the then current salary rate of such personnel. (f) Funds provided for in agreements with foreign countries for the furnishing of services under this Act shall be deemed to be obligated for the services of personnel employed by the United States Government as well as other personnel. 75 Stat. 451 (g) The principles regarding foreign language competence set forth in section 578 of the Foreign Service Act of 1946, as amended (22 U.S.C. 801), shall be applicable to personnel carrying out functions under this Act and the Secretary of State shall make appropriate designations and standards for such personnel. (h) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, officers and employees of the United States Government performing functions under this Act shall not accept from any foreign country any compensation or other benefits. Arrangements may be made by the President with such countries for reimbursement to the United States Government or other sharing of the cost of performing such functions. (i) To the maximum extent practicable officers and employees performing functions under this Act abroad shall be assigned to countries and positions for which they have special competence, such as appropriate language and practical experience.