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119-hr-2879119th Congress

Prison Staffing Reform Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Obernolte, Jay [R-CA-23]

Introduced

Summary

Cut federal prison understaffing and forced overtime. This bill would require an independent external review and a detailed staffing plan with numeric staffing guidelines, recruitment steps, and timelines to address shortages.

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  • Families and people in custody: Would aim to reduce waiting lists and improve access to medical care, substance use disorder and mental health treatment, educational programming, and protections against violence and sexual misconduct.
  • Correctional staff and unions: Would require a recruitment and vacancy-filling plan to reduce mandated overtime and misuse of augmentation and to set the number of officers and non‑custody staff needed per person in custody by shift.
  • Bureau operations and oversight: Would mandate a non‑BOP review to be submitted within 180 days, include consultation with AFGE Council C-33 and outside experts, require a 3‑year implementation deadline after the plan and a cost projection, and call for annual progress reports.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Independent review of federal prison staffing

Within 180 days, the BOP Director would hire an outside group to review staffing and how shortages harm people. They would consult the prison union (Council of Prison Locals C‑33), civil rights groups, and reentry and treatment groups. The review would include an independent check of medical care quality by the National Academy of Medicine or another capable nonprofit. It would look at waiting lists; medical, mental health, substance use, and maternal care; safety from violence and sexual misconduct; programs and teachers; food and sanitation; security and contraband; cameras; and radios with a man‑down feature. It would also assess forced overtime and augmentation, compare staffing methods and terms, and tally added costs.

Three-year plan to fix prison staffing

Within 180 days, the Director would send Congress and the prison union a staffing plan. The plan would recruit and hire, fill vacancies, cut forced overtime and misuse of augmentation, and strengthen staffing. It would set staffing guidelines: officers per person in custody by unit, and teachers, counselors, case managers, and medical staff per person, by shift, security level, and special mission. The plan would include a three‑year strategy with cost estimates to fill and keep staff. Implementation would be finished within three years of submission, if funded, with yearly progress reports starting one year after submission to Congress and the union.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Obernolte, Jay [R-CA-23]

CA • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 4/10/2025

  • Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 4/10/2025

  • Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 4/10/2025

  • Rep. Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 8/15/2025

  • Rep. Meuser, Daniel [R-PA-9]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 9/15/2025

  • Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 12/9/2025

  • Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]

    NJ • R

    Sponsored 3/9/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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