31 U.S.C. § 732a

(a) The Comptroller General may establish senior-level positions to meet critical scientific, technical or professional needs of the Government Accountability Office. An individual serving in such a position shall— (1) be subject to the laws and regulations applicable to the General Accounting Office Senior Executive Service 1 1 See Change of Name note below. under section 733 of this title , with respect to rates of basic pay, performance awards, ranks, carry over of annual leave, benefits, performance appraisals, removal or suspension, and reductions in force; (2) have the same rights of appeal to the General Accounting Office Personnel Appeals Board 1 as are provided to the Office Senior Executive Service; (3) be exempt from the same provisions of law as are made inapplicable to the Office Senior Executive Service under section 733(d) of this title , except for section 732(e) of this title ; (4) be entitled to discontinued service retirement under chapter 83 or 84 of title 5 as if a member of the Office Senior Executive Service; and (5) be subject to reassignment by the Comptroller General to any position in the Office Senior Executive Service under section 733 of this title , as the Comptroller General determines necessary and appropriate. (b) Senior-level positions under this section may include positions referred to in paragraph (1) or (2) of section 731(e) of this title .