NASA Talent Exchange Program Act

Summary

Creates a NASA public–private talent exchange that lets NASA employees do temporary assignments with private companies and lets private-sector employees work at NASA, only with the employee’s consent and the private entity’s agreement. Assignments require a written agreement that sets the terms, protects predecisional NASA information, and for NASA employees imposes a post‑assignment service obligation equal to twice the assignment length; failure to comply can make the employee liable to repay assignment costs (with limited waiver authority). Assignments run from at least 90 days to 2 years (with limited renewals) and detailed employees remain federal employees during assignments.

• Creates a formal talent exchange enabling temporary assignments between NASA and private entities with employee consent.
• Requires a written agreement among NASA, the private entity, and the employee that sets terms, protections, and liabilities.
• NASA employees assigned to private entities must agree to serve in federal civil service for twice the assignment length after returning.
• Employees who breach the service obligation can be held liable for assignment costs; the Administrator may waive recovery in equity.
• Assignments must be at least 90 days and normally no more than 2 years, renewable with strict limits and a narrow exception up to 4 years.
• Detailed NASA employees remain Federal employees for pay, benefits, and legal status while assigned to private entities.
• Agreements must prohibit misuse of predecisional or draft deliberative information for private-sector advantage.
• Either NASA or the private entity can terminate an assignment at any time for any reason.
• Program relies on administrative agreements and NASA oversight rather than new appropriations included in the text.