July 31, 2025
Mr. Heinrich introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
To institute a reduction in force moratorium at the Department of Energy, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Saving the Department of Energy's Workforce Act
.
Sec. 2. Reduction in force moratorium at the Department of Energy
(a) In general
Until on or after the date that full-year appropriations for the Department of Energy for fiscal year 2026 have been enacted into law, the Secretary of Energy may not—
(1)
initiate or implement any reduction in force at the Department of Energy; 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 Department of Energy except for cause on charges of misconduct, delinquency, or performance.
(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 title 5, United States Code.