((a))

((1)) Subject to the provisons  of paragraph (2) of this subsection, the President is authorized to appoint and fix the pay of employees in the White House Office without regard to any other provision of law regulating the employment or compensation of persons in the Government service. Employees so appointed shall perform such official duties as the President may prescribe.

((2)) The President may, under paragraph (1) of this subsection, appoint and fix the pay of not more than—

((A)) 25 employees at rates not to exceed the rate of basic pay then currently paid for level II of the Executive Schedule of ; and in addition

((B)) 25 employees at rates not to exceed the rate of basic pay then currently paid for level III of the Executive Schedule of ; and in addition

((C)) 50 employees at rates not to exceed the maximum rate of basic pay then currently paid for GS–18 of the General Schedule of ; and in addition

((D)) such number of other employees as he may determine to be appropriate at rates not to exceed the minimum rate of basic pay then currently paid for GS–16 of the General Schedule of .

((b))

((1)) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (2) of this subsection, the President is authorized to appoint and fix the pay of employees in the Executive Residence at the White House without regard to any other provision of law regulating the employment or compensation of persons in the Government service. Employees so appointed shall perform such official duties as the President may prescribe.

((2)) The President may, under paragraph (1) of this subsection, appoint and fix the pay of not more than—

((A)) 3 employees at rates not to exceed the maximum rate of basic pay then currently paid for GS–18 of the General Schedule of ; and in addition

((B)) such number of other employees as he may determine to be appropriate at rates not to exceed the minimum rate of basic pay then currently paid for GS–16 of the General Schedule of .

((c)) The President is authorized to procure for the White House Office and the Executive Residence at the White House, as provided in appropriation Acts, temporary or intermittent services of experts and consultants, as described in and in accordance with the first two sentences of —

((1)) in the case of the White House Office, at respective daily rates of pay for individuals which are not more than the daily equivalent of the rate of basic pay then currently paid for level II of the Executive Schedule of ; and

((2)) in the case of the Executive Residence, at respective daily rates of pay for individuals which are not more than the daily equivalent of the maximum rate of basic pay then currently paid for GS–18 of the General Schedule of .

((d)) There are authorized to be appropriated each fiscal year to the President such sums as may be necessary for—

((1)) the care, maintenance, repair, alteration, refurnishing, improvement, air-conditioning, heating, and lighting (including electric power and fixtures) of the Executive Residence at the White House;

((2)) the official expenses of the White House Office;

((3)) the official entertainment expenses of the President;

((4)) the official entertainment expenses for allocation within the Executive Office of the President; and

((5)) the subsistence expenses of persons in the Government service while traveling on official business in connection with the travel of the President.

((e)) Assistance and services authorized pursuant to this section to the President are authorized to be provided to the spouse of the President in connection with assistance provided by such spouse to the President in the discharge of the President’s duties and responsibilities. If the President does not have a spouse, such assistance and services may be provided for such purposes to a member of the President’s family whom the President designates.