---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 6241"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "6241"
heading: "Authority for appointment of certain scientific, engineering, and technical personnel"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/6241"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part VI — Elements of Department of Defense and Other Matters"
  - "Subpart B — Atomic Energy Defense"
  - "Chapter 606 — Personnel Matters"
  - "Subchapter I — Personnel Management"
---

# §6241. Authority for appointment of certain scientific, engineering, and technical personnel

- (a) **Authority.—**
  - (1) Notwithstanding any provision of [title 5](/usc/5.md) governing appointments in the competitive service and General Schedule classification and [pay](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-15) [rates](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-9), the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Energy may—
    - (A) establish and set the [rates](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-9) of [pay](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-15) for not more than 200 positions in the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Energy for scientific, engineering, and technical personnel whose duties will relate to safety at defense nuclear [facilities](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6); and
    - (B) appoint [persons](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) to such positions.
  - (2) The [rate](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-9) of [pay](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-15) for a position established under [paragraph (1)](#a-1) may not exceed the [rate](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-9) of [pay](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-15) payable for level III of the Executive Schedule under [section 5314 of title 5](/usc/5/5314.md).
  - (3) To the maximum extent practicable, the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) shall appoint [persons](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) under [paragraph (1)(B)](#a-1-B) to the positions established under [paragraph (1)(A)](#a-1-A) in accordance with the merit system principles set forth in [section 2301](/usc/10/2301.md) of such title.
- (b) **OPM Review.—**
  - (1) The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) shall enter into an agreement with the Director of the Office of Personnel Management under which agreement the Director shall periodically evaluate the use of the authority set forth in [subsection (a)(1)](#a-1). The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) shall reimburse the Director for evaluations conducted by the Director pursuant to the agreement. Any such reimbursement shall be credited to the revolving fund referred to in [section 1304(e) of title 5](/usc/5/1304.md?p=e).
  - (2) If the Director determines as a result of such evaluation that the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Energy is not appointing [persons](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) to positions under such authority in a manner consistent with the merit system principles set forth in [section 2301 of title 5](/usc/5/2301.md) or is setting [rates](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-9) of [pay](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-15) at levels that are not appropriate for the qualifications and experience of the [persons](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) appointed and the duties of the positions involved, the Director shall notify the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) and Congress of that determination.
  - (3) Upon receipt of a notification under [paragraph (2)](#b-2), the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) shall—
    - (A) take appropriate actions to appoint [persons](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) to positions under such authority in a manner consistent with such principles or to set [rates](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-9) of [pay](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-15) at levels that are appropriate for the qualifications and experience of the [persons](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) appointed and the duties of the positions involved; or
    - (B) cease appointment of [persons](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) under such authority.
- (c) **Termination.—**
  - (1) The authority provided under [subsection (a)(1)](#a-1) shall terminate on September 30, 2036.
  - (2) An employee may not be separated from employment with the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Energy or receive a reduction in [pay](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-15) by reason of the termination of authority under [paragraph (1)](#c-1).

## Source credit

(Added and amended Pub. L. 119–60, div. C, title XXXI, §§ 3111(a), (d)(1)(F), (2)(B), 3115, Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1412, 1462, 1464.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Amendment by section 3115 of Pub. L. 119–60 directed to section 4601 of Pub. L. 107–314 executed to this section pursuant to section 3111(d)(1)(F) of Pub. L. 119–60. See Further Technical Amendments note set under section 6114 of this title.

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 6241 was renumbered section 8291 of this title.

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 2701 of Title 50, War and National Defense, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 119–60, § 3111(b)(1).

### Amendments

2025—Pub. L. 119–60, § 3111(d)(2)(B), realigned margins.

Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 119–60, §§ 3111(d)(1)(F), 3115, substituted “September 30, 2036” for “September 30, 2026”. See Codification note above.