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119-hr-8523119th CongressWALLET

Public Lands Workforce Stability Act

Sponsored By: Representative Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]

Introduced

Summary

This bill would create a nationwide _freeze on reductions in force at the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Forest Service_, blocking federal funds for most involuntary layoffs or separations through Sept. 30, 2030.

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  • Workers at the Interior and the Forest Service would get stronger job protection because federal funds could not be used to carry out reductions in force or involuntary separations. Covered staff include competitive service employees, career employees in the excepted service, and career Senior Executive Service appointees.
  • Agency managers would lose some ability to downsize or reorganize staff because proposed layoffs or involuntary separations could not proceed without funding and approval conditions.
  • Chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees would gain formal oversight. Proposed RIFs and separations must get prior notification and approval from those leaders before funds could be spent on them.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Protect DOI and Forest Service Jobs

If enacted, this bill would protect jobs at the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Forest Service through September 30, 2030. Agencies would be barred from using federal funds to start reductions in force unless they first notify and get approval from the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. The bill would also bar using federal funds for involuntary separations of competitive service employees, career excepted employees, and career Senior Executive Service appointees, except for cause for misconduct, delinquency, or performance. The bill would use the Title 5 definitions for those job types.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]

CO • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3]

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 10/22/2026

  • Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 4/27/2026

  • Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2]

    NM • D

    Sponsored 5/12/2026

  • Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1]

    CO • D

    Sponsored 6/8/2026

  • Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7]

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 7/13/2026

  • Rep. Kiley, Kevin [I-CA-3]

    CA • I

    Sponsored 7/16/2026

  • Rep. Cisneros, Gilbert Ray [D-CA-31]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 8/31/2026

  • Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 9/2/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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