S. 2597: Saving the Department of the Interior's Workforce Act

This legislation, titled the "Saving the Department of the Interior's Workforce Act," aims to implement a moratorium on any reduction in force (RIF) within all agencies and bureaus of the Department of the Interior until after the fiscal year 2026 appropriations have been fully enacted. Here are the key components of the bill:

Moratorium on Reductions in Force

Specifically, the bill prohibits the Secretary of the Interior from:

• Initiating or implementing any reduction in force: This means that no layoffs or workforce reductions can take place in any agency or bureau under the Department of the Interior.
• Conducting involuntary separations: Employees in the competitive service, as well as career employees and career appointees in the Senior Executive Service, cannot be removed from their positions without cause, aside from reasons related to misconduct, delinquency, or performance issues.

Definitions and Context

To clarify terms used in the legislation:

• The bill defines terms such as "competitive service," "excepted service," and "career appointee" according to their official meanings as established in federal law.
• The moratorium is an additional measure that complements existing provisions regarding adverse personnel actions provided under federal law.

Duration of the Moratorium

The moratorium is in effect until the full-year appropriations for the Department of the Interior for the fiscal year 2026 are enacted into law. This establishes a period of protection for the workforce against involuntary separations and layoffs during the specified timeframe.

Implications of the Bill

The main intention of this bill is to provide job security for employees working in agencies and bureaus of the Department of the Interior during a particular budgetary period, likely in response to concerns about workforce stability impacts from potential budget cuts or policy changes.

Relevant Companies

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