March 18, 2025
Ms. Lofgren (for herself and Mr. Amo) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
To institute a reduction in force moratorium at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Saving NOAA’s Workforce Act
.
Sec. 2. Reduction in force moratorium at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(a) In general
Until on or after the date that full-year appropriations for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for fiscal year 2026 have been enacted into law, the Administration may not—
(1)
initiate or implement any reduction in force; or
(2)
conduct an involuntary separation of any employee in the competitive service, any career employee in the excepted service, or any career appointee in the Senior Executive Service of the Administration except for cause on charges of misconduct, delinquency, or inefficiency.
(b) Application
For the purposes of carrying out subsection (a)—
(1)
the terms competitive service
, excepted service
, and career appointee
have the meanings given those terms in sections 2102, 2103, and 3132(a), respectively, of title 5, United States Code; and
(2)
such subsection shall be in addition to any other authority with respect to adverse personnel actions, including chapter 75 of such title 5.