H.R. 5676: Stop Stealing Our Jobs Act (119th Congress) Bill Summary

This bill, titled the Stop Stealing Our Jobs Act, aims to prevent federal government agencies from terminating employees during government shutdowns caused by lapses in appropriations. Here are the main points of the bill:

Key Provisions

Prohibition on Termination: The bill states that neither the President nor heads of executive agencies can remove any civil service employees during periods when there is a lapse in discretionary appropriations.
Exception for Political Appointees: The only exception to this prohibition is for political appointees, meaning individuals who hold positions that are politically appointed rather than career civil service roles.

Definitions

Civil Service: This term refers to the body of government employees hired through a merit system, as defined in the U.S. Code.
Executive Agency: An executive agency is defined according to standards in the U.S. Code, generally referring to the federal agencies that report directly to the President.
Political Appointee: Individuals in positions that are filled by political appointment, which typically include high-level officials in the federal government.
Political Position: This includes roles defined in the Executive Schedule, noncareer appointments in the Senior Executive Service, and positions with confidential or policy-determining character as described in the federal regulations.

Overall Impact

The legislation is intended to protect certain government employees from job loss during government shutdowns, thereby promoting job security within the civil service sector during times of fiduciary uncertainty. It seeks to mitigate the impact of funding lapses on federal employment.