; 123 Stat. 2399), as most recently amended by section 1214 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 ( Public Law 115–91 ; 131 Stat. 1649), is further amended by striking December 31, 2019 and inserting December 31, 2021 . 817. Extension and revision of direct hire authority for technical experts into the defense acquisition workforce Section 1113 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 ( 10 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) by striking Each and inserting The Secretary of Defense and each ; (B) by striking possessing a scientific or engineering degree ; and (C) by striking for that military department and inserting for the Department of Defense or for that military department, respectively, ; (2) in subsection (b), by striking scientific and engineering positions and inserting scientific, technical, engineering, and mathematics positions, including technicians, ; (3) by amending subsection (c) to read as follows: (c) Limitation The total number of persons appointed by the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of a military department under subsection (a) during a fiscal year may not exceed the number equal to 5 percent of the number of hires made into scientific, technical, engineering, and mathematics positions, including technicians, within the acquisition workforce of the Department of Defense or that military department, respectively. ; (4) by striking subsection (e); (5) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (e); and (6) in subsection (e) (as so redesignated), by striking December 31, 2020 and inserting December 31, 2023 . 818. Amendments to research project transaction authorities to eliminate cost-sharing requirements and reduce burdens on use (a) Cooperative agreements for research projects Section 2371(e) of title 10, United States Code, is amended— (1) by striking paragraph (2); (2) by striking paragraph (1)(B); (3) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ; and and inserting a period