The principal administrative officer of the Council shall be an Executive Director, who shall be appointed by the Council and who shall be paid at a rate not to exceed GS–18 of the General Schedule.

The Executive Director shall serve on a full-time basis.

Within the limitations of appropriations to the Council, the Executive Director may appoint a staff for the Council in accordance with the Federal civil service and classification laws.

The staff of the Council shall be deemed to be special government employees as defined in section 202 of title 18 for purposes of title II of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 1 and sections 201, 202, 203, 205, 207, and 208 of title 18.