; or (III) reduce the pay of the covered employee. (ii) Reduction in grade A covered employee subject to a reduction in grade under clause (i)(II) shall, beginning on the date that the reduction takes effect, receive the annual rate of pay applicable to such grade. (iii) Appeal procedures (I) In general Subject to subclause (II) and clause (iv), any reduction in grade or pay or removal under this paragraph may be appealed to the Merit Systems Protection Board under section 7701 of title 5, United States Code. (II) Time for appeal An appeal under subclause (I) may only be made if such appeal is made not later than 7 days after the date of such reduction in grade or pay or removal. (iv) Review on appeal (I) In general Upon receipt of an appeal under clause (iii), the Merit Systems Protection Board shall refer the appeal to an administrative law judge pursuant to section 7701(b)(1) of title 5, United States Code. The administrative law judge shall expedite any such appeal under such section and, in any such case, shall issue a decision not later than 45 days after the date that the Board receives the appeal. (II) Information and assistance To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall provide to the Merit Systems Protection Board, and to any administrative law judge to whom an appeal under this paragraph is referred, such information and assistance as may be necessary to ensure an appeal under this paragraph is expedited. (III) Finality Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including section 7703 of title 5, United States Code, the decision of an administrative law judge under subclause (I) shall be final and shall not be subject to any further appeal. (IV) Delayed decision In any case in which the administrative law judge cannot issue a decision in accordance with the 45-day requirement under subclause (I), the reduction in grade or pay or removal is final. In such a case, the Merit Systems Protection Board shall, within 14 days after the date that such reduction in grade or pay or removal is final,