22 U.S.C. § 2698: Procurement of legal services

(a) The Secretary of State may, without regard to section 3106 of title 5, authorize a principal officer of the Foreign Service to procure legal services whenever such services are required for the protection of the interests of the Government or to enable a member of the Service to carry on the member’s work efficiently. (b) The authority available to the Secretary of State under this section shall be available to the Broadcasting Board of Governors, and the Administrator of the Agency for International Development with respect to the Board and the Agency.