1. (a) Ensign Temporary appointments in the grade of ensign may be made by the President. Each such temporary appointment terminates at the close of the next regular session of the Congress.
2. (b) Lieutenant (junior grade) Officers in the permanent grade of ensign may be temporarily promoted to and appointed in the grade of lieutenant (junior grade) by the President whenever vacancies exist in higher grades.
3. (c) Any one grade When determined by the Secretary to be in the best interest of the service, officers in any permanent grade may be temporarily promoted one grade by the President. Any such temporary promotion terminates upon the transfer of the officer to a new assignment.

(Pub. L. 107–372, title II, § 229, Dec. 19, 2002, 116 Stat. 3087; Pub. L. 112–166, § 2(gg)(3), Aug. 10, 2012, 126 Stat. 1290.)

Prior Provisions Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 853j–1 of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 107–372.

Amendments 2012—Pub. L. 112–166 struck out “alone” after “President” wherever appearing and, in subsec. (a), struck out “unless the Senate sooner gives its advice and consent to the appointment” before period at end of second sentence.

Effective Date of 2012 Amendment Amendment by Pub. L. 112–166 effective 60 days after Aug. 10, 2012, and applicable to appointments made on and after that effective date, including any nomination pending in the Senate on that date, see section 6(a) of Pub. L. 112–166, set out as a note under section 113 of Title 6, Domestic Security.

Delegation of Functions Functions of President under this section delegated to Secretary of Commerce by section 1(b)–(d) of Ex. Ord. No. 11023, May 28, 1962, 27 F.R. 5131, as amended, set out as a note under section 301 of Title 3, The President.