; and (2) the Department has received explicit consent from the employee to access a personal technology device or personal account prior to each time such device or account is accessed. (e) Rule of construction Nothing in this section may be construed— (1) to encourage Department personnel to use personal technology devices for official business; or (2) to authorize cyber protection support for senior Department personnel using personal devices, networks, and personal accounts in an official capacity. (f) Report Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees regarding the provision of cyber protection support pursuant to subsection (b), which shall include— (1) a description of the methodology used to make the determination under subsection (a)(1); and (2) guidance for the use of cyber protection support and tracking of support requests for personnel receiving cyber protection support pursuant to subsection (b). IV Organization and operations 401. Personal services contractors (a) Exigent circumstances and crisis response To assist the Department in addressing and responding to exigent circumstances and urgent crises abroad, the Department is authorized to employ, domestically and abroad, a limited number of personal services contractors in order to meet exigent needs, subject to the requirements of this section. (b) Authority The authority to employ personal services contractors is in addition to any existing authorities to enter into personal services contracts and authority provided in the Afghanistan Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022 (division C of Public Law 117–43 ). (c) Employing and allocation of personnel To meet the needs described in subsection (a) and subject to the requirements in subsection (d), the Department may— (1) enter into contracts to employ a total of up to 100 personal services contractors at any given time for each of fiscal years 2024, 2025, and 2026