# 119-hr-1989: Protect Our Probationary Employees Act

119-hr-1989, Protect Our Probationary Employees Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3] (D-MD); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-03).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1989
- As of: 2026-10-03
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-1989
- Congress: 119
- Title: Protect Our Probationary Employees Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-03-10
- Sponsor: Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3] (D-MD)
- Cosponsors: 72
- Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-10-03

## Summary

**Shorten remaining probationary periods for reinstated federal employees.** This bill would temporarily set a reinstated employee's final probation equal to the difference between the full required probation and the probation time they already served. - Covered employees: Individuals who were involuntarily separated from Executive agencies between January 20, 2025 and January 20, 2029 would often have less additional probation to serve when rehired. The remaining probation is reduced but cannot exceed the original probationary period. - Agencies and hiring offices: Executive agencies would use this formula when appointing eligible employees back to their former agency in the same or a substantially similar position. That can speed rehiring by shortening the clock on trial periods. - Limits and scope: The rule applies only when the appointment is to the former employing agency and "to the extent practicable" matches the previous Federal position. The modification sunsets on January 20, 2029.

## Cosponsors (72)

- Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8] (D-MA), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12] (D-NC), 2025-03-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44] (D-CA), 2025-03-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Baumgartner, Michael [R-WA-5] (R-WA), 2025-03-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8] (D-VA), 2025-03-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1] (D-OR), 2025-03-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5] (D-OR), 2025-03-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14] (D-FL), 2025-03-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5] (D-MO), 2025-03-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9] (D-TN), 2025-03-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3] (D-KS), 2025-03-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3] (D-PA), 2025-03-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6] (D-LA), 2025-03-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4] (D-NC), 2025-03-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8] (D-CA), 2025-03-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6] (D-PA), 2025-03-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hoyer, Steny H. [D-MD-5] (D-MD), 2025-03-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hurd, Jeff [R-CO-3] (R-CO), 2025-03-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ivey, Glenn [D-MD-4] (D-MD), 2025-03-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51] (D-CA), 2025-03-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26] (D-NY), 2025-03-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1] (D-OH), 2025-03-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16] (D-NY), 2025-03-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12] (D-PA), 2025-03-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4] (D-WI), 2025-03-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC), 2025-03-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria [D-NY-14] (D-NY), 2025-03-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Olszewski, Johnny [D-MD-2] (D-MD), 2025-03-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50] (D-CA), 2025-03-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2] (D-WI), 2025-03-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3] (D-IL), 2025-03-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8] (D-MD), 2025-03-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6] (D-OR), 2025-03-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10] (D-IL), 2025-03-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9] (D-FL), 2025-03-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-VA-10] (D-VA), 2025-03-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13] (D-MI), 2025-03-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1] (D-NV), 2025-03-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12] (D-MI), 2025-03-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7] (D-NY), 2025-03-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37] (D-CA), 2025-03-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2] (D-NH), 2025-03-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7] (D-MD), 2025-03-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2] (R-VA), 2025-03-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3] (D-AZ), 2025-03-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1] (D-WA), 2025-03-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2] (D-AL), 2025-03-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20] (D-NY), 2025-03-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7] (D-IL), 2025-03-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2] (D-HI), 2025-03-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9] (D-IL), 2025-03-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4] (D-GA), 2025-03-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43] (D-CA), 2025-03-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17] (D-CA), 2025-03-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12] (D-NJ), 2025-03-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2] (D-NC), 2025-03-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42] (D-CA), 2025-03-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2] (D-CO), 2025-03-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6] (D-MD), 2025-03-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2] (D-RI), 2025-03-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6] (D-MA), 2025-03-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Friedman, Laura [D-CA-30] (D-CA), 2025-04-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5] (D-CT), 2025-04-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11] (D-VA), 2025-04-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Turner, Michael R. [R-OH-10] (R-OH), 2025-04-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sherrill, Mikie [D-NJ-11] (D-NJ), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7] (D-TX), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1] (D-NM), 2025-05-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1] (R-PA), 2025-05-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36] (D-CA), 2025-06-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13] (D-IL), 2025-11-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11] (D-MI), 2025-12-09T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Rehired federal workers get probation credit: benefit, medium. If enacted, some rehired federal workers would get credit for probation time already served. You would need to have been involuntarily separated between January 20, 2025 and January 20, 2029. Before separation, you must have been in an Executive agency on an initial probationary or trial appointmen…
- Probation credit ends January 20, 2029: cost, low. If enacted, the bill’s protections would end on January 20, 2029. After that date, the probation credit rule would stop unless Congress extends it.

## Related bills

- 119-hr-2550: Protect America's Workforce Act
- 119-hr-1589: American Dream and Promise Act of 2025
- 119-hr-17: Paycheck Fairness Act
- 119-hr-1810: Safe Schools Improvement Act
- 119-hr-2102: Major Richard Star Act
- 119-hr-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-1989 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1989)

## Related
- [119-hr-2550: Protect America's Workforce Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2550)
- [119-hr-1589: American Dream and Promise Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1589)
- [119-hr-17: Paycheck Fairness Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-17)
- [119-hr-1810: Safe Schools Improvement Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1810)
- [119-hr-2102: Major Richard Star Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2102)
- [119-hr-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-51)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1989 (as of 2026-10-03).