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.
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
IntroducedMs. Waters (for herself, Mr. Connolly, Mrs. McIver, Ms. Brownley, …
Summary
What This Bill Does
The Reduction in Force Review Act requires federal agencies to provide detailed justifications to Congress before laying off workers (called "reductions in force" or RIFs). Currently, agencies can conduct mass layoffs with limited oversight. This bill makes such workforce cuts subject to congressional review under the Congressional Review Act, giving lawmakers the ability to block layoffs they find unjustified.
Who Benefits and How
Federal employees, especially those facing potential layoffs, benefit from greater job security protections. Agencies must now explain why layoffs are necessary, what alternatives were considered, and consult with affected workers before proceeding.
Veterans employed by federal agencies receive specific protections, as agencies must document how any layoffs will impact veteran workers.
Labor unions and employee representatives gain a formal role in the process, as agencies must consult with them before conducting layoffs.
Who Bears the Burden and How
Federal agencies face new compliance requirements. Before conducting layoffs, they must prepare detailed documentation explaining the specific reasons for workforce cuts, the anticipated impact on operations and employees, alternatives considered and why they were rejected, summaries of consultations with affected employees and their representatives, and the impact on veteran employees.
Agency leadership may face delays and additional scrutiny when seeking to restructure their workforce, as Congress can now review and potentially disapprove reduction-in-force decisions.
Key Provisions
- Expands the definition of "rule" under the Congressional Review Act to include reductions in force and significant agency actions affecting employees
- Requires agencies to submit detailed justifications to Congress before conducting layoffs
- Mandates consultation with affected employees and their union representatives before workforce cuts
- Requires specific analysis of how layoffs will impact veteran employees
- Subjects workforce restructuring, office closures, and similar actions to congressional oversight
Evidence Chain:
This summary is derived from the structured analysis below. See "Detailed Analysis" for per-title beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
Primary Purpose
Amends title 5 of the United States Code to require detailed justifications for reductions in force at federal agencies, including reasons for the reduction, impact on employees and operations, alternatives considered, consultations held, and effects on veteran employees.
Policy Domains
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
Key Definitions
Terms defined in this bill
Includes a rule or order relating to a reduction in force at a Federal agency that is authorized under subchapter I of chapter 35, and any significant action by a Federal agency that substantially affects the rights or obligations of non-Federal agency parties.
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
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