Bill
HR 149
Federal employees and Congress must enroll in standard public healthcare plans instead of their current separate benefits program to align their coverage with ordinary Americans.
HR 149, the Lead by Example Act of 2025, requires federal employees and members of Congress to enroll in and use the same healthcare plans available to the general public, rather than the separate Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHB) and Federal Employees Health Benefits for Congress. The bill aims to create parity between what elected officials and federal workers experience and what ordinary Americans receive through commercial healthcare markets.
This bill addresses a longstanding criticism that elected officials and federal employees have insulated themselves from healthcare systems they create and regulate. By requiring Congress members and federal staff to use public healthcare options, proponents argue it would incentivize them to improve healthcare quality and affordability for all Americans. Conversely, it raises questions about how federal employee recruitment, retention, and operational efficiency would be affected.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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