NASA Talent Exchange Program Act

Summary

Creates a NASA public-private talent exchange program that lets NASA temporarily detail employees to private-sector entities (and vice versa under Administrator rules) under written agreements. Agreements require a return-to-service obligation (typically twice the assignment length) or repayment of assignment costs, include safeguards against misuse of draft or predecisional information, and set limits on assignment length, renewals, oversight, and ethics rules.

• Establishes a formal NASA public-private talent exchange program for temporary detail assignments.
• Requires written agreements that include a return-to-service obligation equal to twice the assignment length or repayment of assignment costs.
• Assignments must be between 3 months and 2 years, renewable up to a 3-year total per employee; Administrator can extend to meet critical needs (not past 3 years).
• Employees who break the agreement can be held liable for assignment expenses, but the Administrator can waive repayment for equity/good-conscience reasons.
• Agreements must include safeguards against misuse of predecisional or draft deliberative information for private advantage.
• Assignments may be terminated at any time by either NASA or the private entity.
• Administrator must issue detailed policies on eligibility, oversight, ethics, expense determination, waiver criteria, and implementation responsibilities.
• Program does not allow performance of inherently governmental functions while assigned to private entities.