February 21, 2025
Ms. Van Duyne introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
To direct executive branch agencies to conduct a review of redundant positions, to limit civil service hiring, to require agency plans for reductions in force or reorganization, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Reducing Expensive Departments & Unnecessary Civil Employees Act
or the REDUCE Act
.
Sec. 2. Review of redundant agency activities and positions; limitation on hiring; agency plans for RIF or reorganization
(a) In general
Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the head of each agency of the executive branch of the Federal Government shall review each position within such agency and submit a report to Congress on which such positions are redundant and unnecessary.
(b) Hiring limitation
(1) In general
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the head of each such agency may appoint no more than 1 employee for every 4 employees of the agency retiring, transferring, or otherwise separating from the agency after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(2) Application
The limitation in paragraph (1) shall apply until the date that the total number of employees at an executive branch agency is equal to or less than 80 percent of the total number of such employees at such agency on the date of the enactment of this Act.
(c) RIF or reorganization plan
The head of each such agency shall determine which agency components should be eliminated or combined with another component, and establish a plan to so eliminate or combine (as the case may be) such components under a reduction in force or through a reorganization.
(d) Exception
This section shall not apply to any position or agency component that is critical to national security, public safety, law enforcement, or immigration enforcement, as determined by the head of each executive branch agency.