; or (2) of any other inability, directly related to recruitment or retention difficulties, that the Commissioner determines sufficient. (c) Direct hire authority; recruitment and relocation bonuses; retention bonuses (1) Direct hire authority (A) In general In addition to the authority under section 3304(a)(3)(B), the Commissioner may appoint, without regard to the provision of sections 3309 through 3318, candidates to positions as covered CBP employees if the Commissioner determines that there exists a severe shortage of highly qualified candidates because the positions are in a rural or remote area. (B) Prioritization of hiring veterans If the Commissioner uses the direct hiring authority under subparagraph (A), the Commissioner shall work to prioritize the hiring of veterans by following the principles contained in part 307 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation, regarding the appointment of qualified veterans to the competitive service. (2) Recruitment and relocation bonuses The Commissioner may pay a bonus to an individual if the Commissioner determines that— (A) the conditions under paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (b) of section 5753 are satisfied with respect to the individual (without regard to any other provision of that section); and (B) the position to which the individual is appointed or to which the individual moves or must relocate— (i) is a position as a covered CBP employee; and (ii) is in a rural or remote area. (3) Retention bonuses The Commissioner may pay a retention bonus to a covered CBP employee if the Commissioner determines that— (A) the condition under subsection (b)(1) of section 5754 is satisfied (without regard to any other provision of that section); (B) the covered CBP employee is employed in a rural or remote area; and (C) in the absence of a retention bonus, the covered CBP employee would be likely to leave— (i) the Federal service