The Secretary of Energy shall appoint, without regard to the civil-service laws, an Assistant Administrator, chief engineer, and general counsel and shall fix the compensation of each in accordance with chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5. The Assistant Administrator shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Administrator, in the event of the absence or sickness of the Administrator until such absence or sickness shall cease and in the event of a vacancy in the office of Administrator until a successor is appointed

The Administrator, the Secretary of the Army, and the Secretary of Energy, respectively, are authorized to appoint, subject to the civil-service laws, such officers and employees as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter, the appointment of whom is not otherwise provided for, and to fix their compensation in accordance with chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5. The Administrator may employ laborers, mechanics, and workmen in connection with construction work or the operation and maintenance of electrical facilities (hereinafter called “laborers, mechanics, and workmen”), subject to the civil-service laws. The Administrator is further authorized to employ physicians, under agreement and without regard to civil-service laws or regulations, to make physical examinations of employees or prospective employees who are or may become laborers, mechanics, and workmen. The Administrator, the Secretary of the Army, and the Secretary of Energy, respectively, are also authorized to appoint, without regard to the civil-service laws, such experts as may be necessary for carrying out the functions entrusted to them under this chapter.

The Administrator may accept and utilize such voluntary and uncompensated services and with the consent of the agency concerned may utilize such officers, employees, or equipment of any agency of the Federal, State, or local governments which he finds helpful in carrying out the purposes of this chapter; in connection with the utilization of such services, reasonable payments may be allowed for necessary travel and other expenses.

(Aug. 20, 1937, ch. 720, § 10, 50 Stat. 736; Oct. 23, 1945, ch. 433, § 5, 59 Stat. 547; July 26, 1947, ch. 343, title II, § 205(a), 61 Stat. 501; Oct. 28, 1949, ch. 782, title XI, § 1106(a), 63 Stat. 972; Pub. L. 95–91, title III, §§ 301(b), 302(a)(1)(D), (2), Aug. 4, 1977, 91 Stat. 578.)