; (B) a limited term appointee, limited emergency appointee, or noncareer appointee (as those terms are defined in section 3132(a) of title 5, United States Code); or (C) employed in a position of a confidential or policy-determining character under schedule C of subpart C of part 213 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation). (5) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary, acting through the Service. (6) Suspend The term suspend means the placing of an employee, for disciplinary reasons, in a temporary status without duties and pay for a period in excess of 14 days. (b) Authority (1) In general The Secretary may, in accordance with this section, remove, demote, or suspend a covered individual from employment at the Service if the Secretary determines that the performance or misconduct of the covered individual warrants such an action. (2) Actions If the Secretary removes, demotes, or suspends a covered individual pursuant to paragraph (1), the Secretary may— (A) remove the covered individual from the civil service (as defined in section 2101 of title 5, United States Code); (B) demote the covered individual by means of— (i) a reduction in grade for which the covered individual is qualified, as the Secretary determines appropriate; and (ii) a reduction of the annual rate of pay of the covered individual; or (C) suspend the covered individual from the civil service (as defined in section 2101 of title 5, United States Code). (c) Pay of certain demoted individuals (1) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any covered individual subject to a demotion by means of a reduction in grade under subsection (b)(2)(B) shall, beginning on the date of the demotion, receive the annual rate of pay applicable to the reduced grade. (2) Restrictions (A) Prohibition on administrative leave A covered individual subject to a demotion under subsection (b)(2)(B)— (i) may not be placed on administrative leave during the period during which an appeal (if any) under this section is ongoing