H.R. 2906: Stopping to Efficiently Review Varying Impacts of Cuts to Employment Act

This bill, titled the "Stopping to Efficiently Review Varying Impacts of Cuts to Employment Act" (SERVICE Act), aims to limit workforce reductions at federal agencies in the United States. Here are the key components of the bill:

Workforce Reduction Limits

The bill stipulates that federal agencies cannot reduce their total employee count by more than 5% during a fiscal year unless they meet certain reporting requirements. Specifically, any proposed reduction must be evaluated and reported on before proceeding.

Required Reports and Analysis

Before any cuts greater than 5% can take place, the agency must submit a detailed report to the Comptroller General and Congress that includes:

• Financial Impacts: An analysis of anticipated costs or savings resulting from the staff reductions, including:
  • Employee pay and benefits for those whose positions may be terminated.
  • Administrative costs associated with implementing the employee cuts.
  • Any additional costs related to contracting services to replace jobs lost due to the cuts.
• Mission-Related Impacts: An analysis of how the proposed cuts would affect the agency's functions, including:
  • Details about any specific offices or job functions facing reductions greater than 5%.
  • Current performance metrics for functions or services that would be impacted.
  • Assessment of how the cuts would influence the overall performance of the agency and the quality of services provided to the public.
• Methodological Basis: A description of the analysis methods used to support the agency's conclusions about the impacts of the staff reductions.

Review by the Comptroller General

After receiving the agency report, the Comptroller General has 180 days to review and report back to Congress on whether the submitted documentation satisfies all required elements. This includes evaluating whether the projected financial and mission-related implications are supported by credible information. The Comptroller General’s findings will be publicly accessible on their website.

Purpose of the Bill

The overarching intention of the SERVICE Act is to ensure that any significant staff reductions at federal agencies are carefully scrutinized and evaluated for their potential impact on operations and finances, helping to safeguard the quality and availability of government services.

Relevant Companies

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