political appointee
(2) Political appointee In this subsection, the term “political appointee” means an individual occupying— (A) a position described under sections 5312 through 5316 of title 5 (relating to the Executive Schedule); (B) a noncareer position in the Senior Executive Service, as described under section 3132(a)(7) of that title; (C) a position in the executive branch of the Government of a confidential or policy-determining character under schedule C of subpart C of part 213 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations ; or (D) a position which has been excepted from the competitive service by reason of its confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character.