; or (3) reduce the pay of an employee of the agency. (b) An employee subject to a reduction in grade under subsection (a)(2) shall, beginning on the date that the reduction takes effect, receive the annual rate of pay applicable to such grade. (c) (1) Subject to paragraph (2) and subsection (d), any reduction in grade or pay or removal under this subchapter may be appealed to the Merit Systems Protection Board under section 7701. (2) An appeal under paragraph (1) may only be made if such appeal is made not later than seven days after the date of such reduction in grade or pay or removal. (d) (1) Upon receipt of an appeal under subsection (c), the Merit Systems Protection Board shall refer the appeal to an administrative judge pursuant to section 7701(b)(1). The administrative 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. (2) To the maximum extent practicable, the agency shall provide to the Merit Systems Protection Board, and to any administrative judge to whom an appeal under this section is referred, such information and assistance as may be necessary to ensure an appeal under this subsection is expedited. (3) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including section 7703, the decision of an administrative judge under paragraph (1) shall be final and shall not be subject to any further appeal. (4) In any case in which the administrative judge cannot issue a decision in accordance with the 45-day requirement under paragraph (3), 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, submit to Congress a report that explains the reasons why a decision was not issued in accordance with such requirement. (5) The Merit Systems Protection Board or administrative judge may not stay any reduction in grade or pay or removal action under this