Any officer or agency head may—

(1) appoint civilian personnel without regard to section 5331(b) of title 5 and without regard to the provisions of title 5 governing appointments in the competitive service; and

(2) fix the rate of basic pay for such personnel without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5 relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates,

(Sept. 8, 1950, ch. 932, title VII, § 703, 64 Stat. 816; July 31, 1951, ch. 275, title I, § 109(a), (b), 65 Stat. 138; Pub. L. 102–558, title I, § 133, Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4212.)