May 1, 2025
Mr. Merkley (for himself, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Warner, Ms. Alsobrooks, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Schiff, and Ms. Baldwin) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
To amend title 5, United States Code, to provide that a rule relating to a reduction in force is subject to review under chapter 8 of that title, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Reduction in Force Review Act
.
Sec. 2. Congressional review of agency reductions in force
Chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
in section 801(a)(1)(A)—
(A)
in clause (ii), by striking and
at the end;
(B)
in clause (iii), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and
; and
(C)
by adding at the end the following:
(iv)
if the rule relates to a reduction in force at the Federal agency that is authorized under subchapter I of chapter 35, a detailed justification for the reduction in force, which shall include—
(I)
the specific reasons for the reduction in force;
(II)
the anticipated impact of the reduction in force on the employees and operations of the Federal agency;
(III)
any alternatives to the reduction in force that the Federal agency considered, including the reasons that the Federal agency rejected those alternatives;
(IV)
a summary of the consultations that the Federal agency has held with—
(aa)
employees of the Federal agency who will be affected by the reduction in force; and
(bb)
representatives of the employees described in item (aa); and
(V)
a summary of how the reduction in force will impact employees of the Federal agency who are veterans.; and
(2)
by amending section 804(3) to read as follows:
(3)
The term rule—
(A)
has the meaning given the term in section 551; and
(B)
includes—
(i)
a rule or order relating to a reduction in force at a Federal agency that is authorized under subchapter I of chapter 35; and
(ii)
any significant action by a Federal agency that substantially affects the rights or obligations of non-Federal agency parties, such as a workforce restructuring, office closure, or other action by a Federal agency that has a material impact on the employees or operations of the Federal agency.