5 U.S.C. § 4508: Limitation of awards during a Presidential election year

(a) For purposes of this section, the term—(1) “Presidential election period” means any period beginning on June 1 in a calendar year in which the popular election of the President occurs, and ending on January 20 following the date of such election; and (2) “senior politically appointed officer” means any officer who during a Presidential election period serves—(A) in a Senior Executive Service position and is not a career appointee as defined under section 3132(a)(4); or (B) in a position of a confidential or policy-determining character under schedule C of subpart C of part 213 of title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations. (b) No senior politically appointed officer may receive an award under the provisions of this subchapter during a Presidential election period.