Keep USGS Strong Act

This bill protects the United States Geological Survey (USGS) from federal hiring freezes and layoffs so it can keep its experts on the job. It also stops other agencies from canceling USGS building leases unless the USGS Director agrees. The goal is to keep USGS staff and facilities stable so they can continue vital work like tracking earthquakes and floods, monitoring drinking water and the Great Lakes, and providing maps and data communities use for safety and planning.

Key points

• Who is affected: USGS workers and the communities that rely on USGS science and warnings.
• What changes: USGS would be exempt from any federal hiring freeze, protected from layoffs (if Congress has funded their salaries), and shielded from lease cancellations without the USGS Director’s approval.
• Why it matters: USGS research and alerts help with earthquakes, floods, water quality, invasive species in the Great Lakes, and mapping for emergency response and planning.