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Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-102

§7238 Temporary Appointments for Scientific and Technical Experts in Department of Energy Research and Development Programs

Title 42 › CHAPTER 84 — DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY › SUBCHAPTER VI — ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS › Part B — Personnel Provisions › § 7238

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary can hire scientists, engineers, and other technical or professional people on a short-term or temporary basis while they are on leave from universities, industry, or research institutions. The Department may pay travel and moving costs for the appointee, their immediate family, and household goods to get from their home to the work site, as allowed under section 5723 of title 5, and can pay return travel when the agreed service ends. Instead of moving family and goods, the Department can give a daily per diem up to the amounts in section 5702 of title 5. For appointments of one year or less (which can be extended by up to one additional year), the Department may pay or reimburse the employer’s share of retirement, life insurance, or health plan costs from its funds.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §7238

The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary, utilizing authority under other applicable law and the authority of this section, may appoint for a limited term, or on a temporary basis, scientists, engineers, and other technical and professional personnel on leave of absence from academic, industrial, or research institutions to work for the Department.
(b)The Department may pay, to the extent authorized for certain other Federal employees by section 5723 of title 5, travel expenses for any individual appointed for a limited term or on a temporary basis and transportation expenses of his or her immediate family and his or her household goods and personal effects from that individual’s residence at the time of selection or assignment to his or her duty station. The Department may pay such travel expenses to the same extent for such an individual’s return to the former place of residence from his or her duty station, upon separation from the Federal service following an agreed period of service. The Department may also pay a per diem allowance at a rate not to exceed the daily amounts prescribed under section 5702 of title 5 to such an individual, in lieu of transportation expenses of the immediate family and household goods and personal effects, for the period of his or her employment with the Department. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the employer’s contribution to any retirement, life insurance, or health benefit plan for an individual appointed for a term of one year or less, which could be extended for no more than one additional year, may be made or reimbursed from appropriations available to the Department.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was enacted as part of the Hydrogen Future Act of 1996, and not as part of the Department of Energy Organization Act which comprises this chapter.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Definitions Pub. L. 104–271, § 2, Oct. 9, 1996, 110 Stat. 3304, provided that: “For purposes of titles II and III [enacting this section and provisions set out as a note under section 12403 of this title]— “(1) the term ‘Department’ means the Department of Energy; and “(2) the term ‘Secretary’ means the Secretary of Energy.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 7238

Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102