; and (II) recruitment studies that demonstrate the inability of the Secretary to efficiently and effectively recruit CBP employees for positions in the area; or (ii) experiences a consistent inability to retain CBP employees that negatively impacts agency operations at a local or regional level; or (B) of any other inability, directly related to recruitment or retention difficulties, that the Secretary determines sufficient. (c) Direct hire authority; recruitment and relocation bonuses; retention bonuses (1) Direct hire authority (A) In general The Secretary may appoint, without regard to any provision of sections 3309 through 3319, candidates to positions in the competitive service as CBP employees, in a rural or remote area, if the Secretary— (i) determines that— (I) there is a critical hiring need; and (II) there exists a severe shortage of qualified candidates because of the direct relationship identified by the Secretary under subsection (b)(1)(B) of this section between— (aa) the rural or remote nature of the area; and (bb) difficulty in the recruitment and retention of CBP employees in the area; and (ii) has given public notice for the positions. (B) Prioritization of hiring veterans If the Secretary uses the direct hiring authority under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall apply the principles of preference for the hiring of veterans established under subchapter I of chapter 33. (2) Recruitment and relocation bonuses The Secretary may pay a bonus to an individual (other than an individual described in subsection (a)(2) of section 5753) if— (A) the Secretary determines that— (i) conditions consistent with the conditions described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (b) of such section 5753 are satisfied with respect to the individual (without regard to any other provision of that section); and (ii) the position to which the individual is appointed or to which the individual moves or must relocate— (I) is a position as a CBP employee