42 U.S.C. § 216 — Regulations

(a) Prescription by President: The President must from time to time prescribe regulations covering the appointment, promotion, retirement, ending of commission, titles, pay, uniforms, allowances (including higher allowances for foreign service), and discipline of the commissioned corps of the Service. (b) Promulgation by Surgeon General: Unless a rule specifically provides otherwise, the Surgeon General — with the Secretary's approval — must promulgate all other regulations needed to administer the Service, including rules about employee uniforms and about the custody, use, and preservation of the Service's records, papers, and property. (c) Preference to school of medicine: No regulation about the qualifications for appointing medical officers or employees can give preference to any particular school of medicine.