For the purpose of this subchapter—

“agency” means—

(A) an Executive agency;

(B) a military department;

(C) an agency in the judicial branch;

(D) the Library of Congress;

(E) the Botanic Garden;

(F) the Office of the Architect of the Capitol; and

(G) the government of the District of Columbia;

“employee” means—

(A) an employee in or under an Executive agency;

(B) an individual employed by the government of the District of Columbia; and

(C) an employee in or under the judicial branch, the Library of Congress, the Botanic Garden, and the Office of the Architect of the Capitol, who occupies a position subject to chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of this title;

“law enforcement officer” means an employee who—

(A) is a law enforcement officer within the meaning of section 8331(20) or 8401(17);

(B) in the case of an employee who holds a supervisory or administrative position and is subject to subchapter III of chapter 83, but who does not qualify to be considered a law enforcement officer within the meaning of section 8331(20), would so qualify if such employee had transferred directly to such position after serving as a law enforcement officer within the meaning of such section;

(C) in the case of an employee who holds a supervisory or administrative position and is subject to chapter 84, but who does not qualify to be considered a law enforcement officer within the meaning of section 8401(17), would so qualify if such employee had transferred directly to such position after performing duties described in section 8401(17)(A) and (B) for at least 3 years; and

(D) in the case of an employee who is not subject to subchapter III of chapter 83 or chapter 84— (i) holds a position that the Office of Personnel Management determines would satisfy subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) if the employee were subject to subchapter III of chapter 83 or chapter 84; or (ii) is a special agent in the Diplomatic Security Service.

(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 485; Pub. L. 90–83, § 1(4), Sept. 11, 1967, 81 Stat. 196; Pub. L. 91–375, § 6(c)(16), Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 776; Pub. L. 92–392, § 4, Aug. 14, 1972, 86 Stat. 573; Pub. L. 94–183, § 2(22), Dec. 31, 1975, 89 Stat. 1058; Pub. L. 95–105, title IV, § 412(a)(1), Aug. 17, 1977, 91 Stat. 855; Pub. L. 95–426, title II, § 204(b)(5)(B), Oct. 7, 1978, 92 Stat. 974; Pub. L. 95–454, title IV, § 408(a)(2), Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1173; Pub. L. 96–70, title III, § 3302(e)(1), Sept. 27, 1979, 93 Stat. 498; Pub. L. 96–465, title II, § 2304, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2165; Pub. L. 100–325, § 2(i)(1), May 30, 1988, 102 Stat. 582; Pub. L. 101–509, title V, § 529 [title IV, § 411(a)], Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1427, 1469; Pub. L. 102–378, § 2(40)(A)–(C), Oct. 2, 1992, 106 Stat. 1351; Pub. L. 104–201, div. C, title XXXV, § 3548(a)(6), Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2869; Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title XI, § 1111(b), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 360; Pub. L. 111–282, § 4(c)(2), Oct. 15, 2010, 124 Stat. 3043.)