HR4791-119

What This Bill Does

The Keep USGS Strong Act uses extensive findings to explain USGS work on Great Lakes water quality, invasive species, harmful algal blooms, seismic monitoring, groundwater and surface-water data, geospatial mapping, volcanoes, landslides, floods, ecosystems, biodiversity, mineral resources, energy resources, open data, and public safety. The operative section then protects USGS capacity. Notwithstanding other law, USGS is exempt from the January 20, 2025 Hiring Freeze presidential memorandum and any extension, exempt from reductions in force or other significant employee reductions when Congress has appropriated salary and expense funds, and protected from cancellation of real property leases unless the USGS Director approves. The bill is therefore a workforce and facilities shield for a scientific bureau rather than a new research program.

Who Benefits and How

USGS scientists benefit because the bureau would not be subject to the 2025 hiring freeze or covered reductions in force. Great Lakes communities benefit indirectly from continuity in water-quality, invasive-species, ecosystem, and harmful-algal-bloom monitoring. Earthquake and natural hazard planners benefit if USGS staffing remains available for seismic, volcano, landslide, flood, and warning data. Water managers and map users benefit from continuity in groundwater, surface-water, geospatial, mineral, energy, and open-data programs.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Executive branch workforce offices lose flexibility to apply the hiring freeze or staff reductions to USGS. Federal budget officials must respect congressional salary and expense appropriations before reducing USGS employees. Federal property managers cannot cancel USGS leases without approval from the USGS Director. Federal taxpayers bear the cost of maintaining USGS staffing and leases that might otherwise be reduced.

Key Provisions

• Exempts USGS from the January 20, 2025 Hiring Freeze memorandum and any extension.
• Prohibits reductions in force or significant USGS staff reductions where Congress has appropriated salary and expense funds.
• Requires USGS Director approval before cancellation of USGS real property leases.
• Protects scientific capacity for water, hazards, mapping, ecosystems, mineral, energy, and open-data work.