# 119-s-1585: Reduction in Force Review Act

119-s-1585, Reduction in Force Review Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (D-OR); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2025-12-20).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1585
- As of: 2025-12-20
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-1585
- Congress: 119
- Title: Reduction in Force Review Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-05-01
- Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (D-OR)
- Cosponsors: 9
- Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2025-12-20

## Summary

**Stronger review and mandatory justification for federal reductions in force.** This bill would require agencies to explain why they are cutting jobs and treat big workforce moves as reviewable rules under Chapter 8 of title 5. It expands review to cover actions like restructuring and office closures that materially affect employees. - Federal employees: Agencies would have to provide a detailed written justification whenever a rule relates to a reduction in force. That justification must explain the reasons, the expected effects on employees and operations, and alternatives considered. - Veterans: Agencies must include a summary of how a proposed reduction in force will affect agency employees who are veterans. - Agencies and affected non-federal parties: The bill would redefine “rule” to include significant actions that substantially affect non-federal parties, such as workforce restructuring or office closures, making those actions subject to Chapter 8 review.

## Cosponsors (9)

- Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD] (D-MD), 2025-05-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA] (D-VA), 2025-05-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT] (I-VT), 2025-05-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA] (D-VA), 2025-05-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD] (D-MD), 2025-05-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR] (D-OR), 2025-05-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL] (D-IL), 2025-05-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA] (D-CA), 2025-05-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI] (D-WI), 2025-05-01T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Agencies must explain planned layoffs: benefit, medium. If enacted, this bill would require federal agencies covered by Chapter 8 to include a detailed justification whenever a rule relates to a reduction in force. The justification would have to say the specific reasons for the layoff and the expected effects on employees and agency operations. Agencie…

## Related bills

- 119-s-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act
- 119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026
- 119-s-1503: Equality Act
- 119-sres-854: A resolution designating September 2026 as "National Voting Rights Month".
- 119-s-2150: Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025
- 119-s-2523: John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-s-1585 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1585)

## Related
- [119-s-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-51)
- [119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5108)
- [119-s-1503: Equality Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1503)
- [119-sres-854: A resolution designating September 2026 as "National Voting Rights Month".](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-854)
- [119-s-2150: Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2150)
- [119-s-2523: John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2523)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1585 (as of 2025-12-20).