Reduction in Force Review Act

Bill: 119-s-1585
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2025-05-01
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Latest action: action_date: 2025-05-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Summaries:

tv_txt: II 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1585 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 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 A BILL 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.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Reduction in Force Review Act . 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. .