Federal Workforce Reduction Through Attrition Act

To reduce the total number of civil service employees in the executive branch of the Government through attrition, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Federal Workforce Reduction Through Attrition Act 2. Definitions For purposes of this Act— (1) the term total number of Federal employees (2) the term Federal employee (3) the term agency (4) the term quarter (5) the term baseline quarter 3. Workforce limits and reductions (a) In general The President, through the Office of Management and Budget (in consultation with the Office of Personnel Management), shall take appropriate measures to ensure that, effective with respect to each quarter beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act, the total number of Federal employees determined for such quarter does not exceed the applicable maximum for such quarter. (b) Applicable maximum For purposes of this Act, the applicable maximum (1) in the case of a quarter before the target-attainment quarter, the number equal to— (A) the total number of Federal employees determined for the baseline quarter, reduced by (B) 2/3 (i) beginning on the first day following the baseline quarter; and (ii) ending on the last day of the quarter to which the applicable maximum is being applied; and (2) in the case of the target-attainment quarter and any subsequent quarter, the number equal to 90 percent of the total number of Federal employees as of September 30, 2012. (c) Target-Attainment quarter For purposes of this Act, the term target-attainment quarter (1) the first quarter (subsequent to the baseline quarter) for which the total number of Federal employees does not exceed 90 percent of the total number of Federal employees as of September 30, 2012; or (2) the quarter ending on September 30, 2015. (d) Method for achieving compliance (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (2), any reductions necessary in order to achieve compliance with subsection (a) shall be made through attrition. (2) Exception If, for any quarter, the total number of Federal employees exceeds the applicable maximum for such quarter, then, until the first succeeding quarter for which such total number is determined not to exceed the applicable maximum for such succeeding quarter, reductions shall be made through both attrition and a freeze on appointments. (e) Counting rules For purposes of this Act— (1) any determination of the total number of Federal employees or the number of Federal employees separating from agencies shall be made— (A) on a full-time equivalent basis; and (B) under section 4; and (2) any determination of the total number of Federal employees for a quarter shall be made as of such date or otherwise on such basis as the Office of Management of Budget (in consultation with the Office of Personnel Management) considers to be representative and feasible. (f) Waiver authority The President may waive any of the preceding provisions of this section, with respect to an individual appointment, upon a determination by the President that such appointment is necessary due to— (1) a state of war or for reasons of national security; or (2) an extraordinary emergency threatening life, health, safety, or property. (g) Limitation on procurement of service contracts The President, through the Office of Management and Budget (in consultation with the Office of Personnel Management), shall take appropriate measures to ensure that there is no increase in the procurement of service contracts by reason of the enactment of this Act, except in cases in which a cost comparison demonstrates that such contracts would be to the financial advantage of the Government. 4. Monitoring and notification The Office of Management and Budget (in consultation with the Office of Personnel Management) shall— (1) continuously monitor all agencies and, for each quarter to which the requirements of section 3(a) apply, determine whether or not such requirements have been met; and (2) not later than 14 days after the end of each quarter described in paragraph (1), submit to the President and each House of Congress, a written determination as to whether or not the requirements of section 3(a) have been met. 5. Regulations Any regulations necessary to carry out this Act may be prescribed by the President or his designee.

Summary: Federal Workforce Reduction Through Attrition Act - Requires the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to ensure that the total number of federal employees in each calendar quarter after the enactment of this Act does not exceed the applicable maximum for such quarter, as determined under this Act. Sets forth a formula for determining the applicable maximum based upon 90% of the total number of federal employees as of September 30, 2012. Requires that compliance with such workforce limitation be made through attrition, or through both attrition and a freeze on appointments if the total number of federal employees exceeds the applicable maximum for a quarter. Allows the President to waive such workforce limitation with respect to any individual appointment if the President determines that such appointment is necessary due to: (1) a state of war or for reasons of national security; or (2) an extraordinary emergency threatening life, health, safety, or property. Requires OMB to continuously monitor all agencies to determine whether the workforce limitation required by this Act has been met.