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HR 8523

Public Lands Workforce Stability Act

119th Congress Introduced by Jared Huffman and 1 co-sponsor

Prohibits RIFs and involuntary separations in the DOI and USFS until Sept 30, 2030, with limited exceptions and required congressional approval for any actions.

Introduced in House
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 8523

Overview

  • Bill: H.R. 8523
  • Session: 119th Congress
  • Title: Public Lands Workforce Stability Act
  • Purpose: Prohibit reductions in force (RIFs) and involuntary separations at the Department of the Interior (DOI) and the United States Forest Service (USFS) through September 30, 2030, barring certain exceptions and subject to specific oversight conditions.

Main Purpose and Intent

  • The bill aims to guard federal employees within DOI and USFS from involuntary workforce actions (RIFs and involuntary separations) for a defined period.
  • It seeks to provide workforce stability for personnel managing public lands and related resources by restricting the use of RIFs and non-voluntary separations unless under narrowly defined circumstances.

Key Provisions

  • Prohibition Period:
    • Effective from the date of enactment until September 30, 2030.
  • Prohibited Actions:
    • No obligation or expenditure of federal funds to initiate, implement, or carry out a reduction in force within DOI or USFS.
    • No 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 at DOI or USFS, except for cause based on misconduct, delinquency, or performance.
  • Oversight and Approval:
    • Implementation of any RIF or involuntary separation would require prior notification and approval from the chairs and ranking members of the Appropriations Committees of both the House and Senate.
  • Definitions:
    • The bill uses standard federal personnel classifications:
    • Competitive service
    • Excepted service
    • Career appointee
    • These terms align with Title 5, U.S.C. sections 2102, 2103, and 3132(a), respectively.

Who is Affected

  • Federal employees within:
    • Department of the Interior (DOI)
    • United States Forest Service (USFS)
  • Employee categories affected by the prohibition:
    • Competitive service employees
    • Career employees in the excepted service
    • Career appointees in the Senior Executive Service (SES)
  • The prohibition primarily protects current employees from involuntary reductions or separations during the 2019-2030 period (note: the reference period ends in 2030, as specified).

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Enactment and Effective Date:
    • The act becomes law on the date of enactment.
  • Sunset/End Date:
    • The prohibition expires on September 30, 2030, unless extended or modified.
  • Oversight Mechanism:
    • Any RIF or involuntary separation requires prior notification and approval by the chairs and ranking members of the Appropriations Committees of both chambers.
  • Jurisdictional Considerations:
    • Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources and the House Committee on Agriculture for consideration of provisions within their jurisdiction.

Potential Impact and Considerations

  • Workforce Stability:
    • Provides short- to mid-term protection against forced staffing reductions in DOI and USFS, potentially aiding continuity of land management programs, conservation efforts, and public land services.
  • Management Flexibility:
    • May constrain agency management tools to address performance, budgetary pressures, or organizational changes during the 2019–2030 window.
  • Oversight Burden:
    • Heightens the need for congressional notification and approval for any targeted workforce actions, potentially delaying or denying certain reductions.
  • Fiscal Implications:
    • By restricting RIFs and involuntary separations, the bill may affect budgetary planning and personnel cost management within DOI and USFS during the prohibition period.

If you’d like, I can add a brief comparison to current law on RIFs and involuntary separations or provide potential committee report language to accompany this summary.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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