> Schedule A, a special authority that allows government managers to “hire persons with disabilities

This is misleading:

Schedule A(u) is for disabilities. Schedule A(r) is for short term appointments with a cap of a few years. I believe they are simply using short term positions.

https://handbook.tts.gsa.gov/hiring-staying-or-changing-jobs...

I believe schedule A refers to a whole set of options to forgoe the standard job posting and interview process, where disability is only one such exemption.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-5/chapter-I/subchapter-B/...