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119-hr-4854119th CongressWALLET

Saving the Department of the Interior's Workforce Act

Sponsored By: Representative Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]

Introduced

Summary

A temporary moratorium on reductions in force across the Department of the Interior. The bill would bar any Interior agency or bureau from starting or carrying out layoffs or involuntary separations of covered employees until full-year FY2026 appropriations for the Department are enacted. Removals remain allowed only for cause on charges of misconduct, delinquency, or performance.

Show full summary
  • Interior competitive-service employees would be protected from involuntary separations except for cause.
  • Career employees in the excepted service and career Senior Executive Service appointees would have the same protection, while agencies may still use other adverse-action authorities, including chapter 75 of title 5, for cause.
  • Department managers and bureaus would be prohibited from initiating or implementing any reduction in force until full-year FY2026 Interior appropriations are enacted.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Temporary job protections for Interior employees

The Secretary of the Interior would be barred from layoffs and forced separations at Interior agencies. This would start upon enactment and last until full-year FY2026 Interior appropriations are enacted into law. It would cover competitive-service employees, career excepted-service employees, and career Senior Executive Service appointees. Employees could still be removed for cause for misconduct, delinquency, or poor performance. Other disciplinary rules already in law would still apply.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]

CA • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 8/1/2025

  • Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3]

    NM • D

    Sponsored 8/1/2025

  • Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]

    CO • D

    Sponsored 8/1/2025

  • Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 8/1/2025

  • Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3]

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 8/1/2025

  • Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 8/1/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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