# § 2386. Experts, consultants, and retired officers
**(a)** **Employment; compensation; renewal of contracts of employment** section 3109 of title 5section 5332 of title 5
Experts and consultants or organizations thereof may as authorized by be employed for the performance of functions under this chapter, and individuals so employed may be compensated at rates not in excess of the daily equivalent of the highest rate which may be paid to an employee under the General Schedule established by , and while away from their homes or regular places of business, they may be paid actual travel expenses and per diem in lieu of subsistence at the applicable rate prescribed in the standardized Government travel regulations, as amended from time to time. Contracts for such employment with such organizations, employment of personnel as experts and consultants, not to exceed ten in number, contracts for such employment of retired military personnel with specialized research and development experience, not to exceed ten in number, and contracts for such employment of retired military personnel with specialized experience of a broad politico-military nature, not to exceed five in number, may be renewed annually.
**(b)** **Exemption from certain Federal laws** section 3323(a) of title 5
Service of an individual as an expert or consultant under subsection (a) of this section shall not be considered as employment or holding of office or position bringing such individual within the provisions of .
**(c)** **Employment without compensation of persons of outstanding experience and ability** section 4560(b) of title 50
Persons of outstanding experience and ability may be employed without compensation by any agency of the United States Government for the performance of functions under this chapter in accordance with the provisions of , and regulations issued thereunder.
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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 87–195, pt. III, § 626, Sept. 4, 1961, 75 Stat. 451; Pub. L. 88–205, pt. III, § 302(c), Dec. 16, 1963, 77 Stat. 389; Pub. L. 88–448, title IV, §§ 401(e), 402(a)(35), Aug. 19, 1964, 78 Stat. 490, 495; Pub. L. 88–633, pt. III, § 302(b), Oct. 7, 1964, 78 Stat. 1014; Pub. L. 89–171, pt. III, § 302(d), Sept. 6, 1965, 79 Stat. 660; Pub. L. 90–137, pt. III, § 302(e), Nov. 14, 1967, 81 Stat. 460; Pub. L. 94–329, title VI, § 603, June 30, 1976, 90 Stat. 766; Pub. L. 95–88, title I, § 126, Aug. 3, 1977, 91 Stat. 542.)
## Editorial Notes
### References in Text
This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (c), was in the original “this Act”, meaning , , , known as the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.
### Amendments
1977—Subsec. (b). struck out provisions under which service of an individual as an expert or consultant under subsec. (a) would not be considered employment as would bring a person under , , and any other law limiting the reemployment of retired officers or employees or governing the simultaneous receipt of compensation and retired pay or annuities subject to .
1976—Subsec. (a). substituted “the daily equivalent of the highest rate which may be paid to an employee under the General Schedule established by ” for “$100 per diem”.
1967—Subsec. (a). , substituted reference to section 3109 for former .
Subsec. (b). , substituted references to sections 3323(a) and 8344 of title 5 for former and to for former .
1965—Subsecs. (c), (d). redesignated subsec. (d) as (c). Former subsec. (c) was repealed by , , .
1964—Subsec. (a). , increased compensation limits from $75 to $100 per diem.
Subsec. (b). , struck out provisions which stated that service as an expert or consultant under subsection (a) of this section shall not be considered as employment or holding of office or position bringing such individual within the provisions of , and inserted “, subject to ”.
Subsec. (c). , repealed subsec. (c) which related to compensation of retired officers.
, substituted “” for “Career Compensation Act of 1949, as amended,” in subsec. (c) subsequent to the repeal of such subsection by .
1963—Subsec. (b). substituted “Service of an individual as an expert or consultant under subsection (a) of this section shall not” for “Nor shall such service”, and struck out provisions exempting individuals serving under subsec. (a) of this section from coverage of sections 281, 283, or 284 of title 18, , or any Federal law imposing restrictions, requirements, or penalties in connection with claims or matters involving the U.S. Government, except insofar as such provisions prohibited such individuals from receiving compensation in respect of any matter in which such individual was directly involved in the performance of such service.
## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
### Effective Date of 1964 Amendment
Amendment by effective on first day of first month which begins later than the ninetieth day following , see , , .
### References in Other Laws to GS–16, 17, or 18 Pay Rates
References in laws to the rates of pay for GS–16, 17, or 18, or to maximum rates of pay under the General Schedule, to be considered references to rates payable under specified sections of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, see section 529 [title I, § 101(c)(1)] of , set out in a note under .