Sponsors (18)
The bill gives current, separating, and former federal employees faster, clearer access to complete personnel records (including physical copies) in exchange for additional administrative costs, tighter deadlines that may strain HR offices, and heightened privacy/security risks if transfers are not properly managed.
Current federal employees can request and receive their complete personnel records within 7 days, giving them faster, clearer access to employment history and personnel actions.
Federal employees who separate on or after enactment automatically receive their full personnel files within 7 days of separation, easing job transitions, benefit claims, and background checks.
Former federal employees who left before enactment can obtain their records from OPM within 21 days, simplifying access for retirement, benefits, or background checks.
Federal employees face increased risk of sensitive personal information being disclosed if agencies fail to properly redact or secure records during retrieval and transfer.
Agency HR offices could be strained by strict 7- and 21-day deadlines, producing rushed or incomplete responses and increasing the chance of errors in personnel records.
Agencies and OPM will incur administrative costs to locate, duplicate, and deliver records, potentially requiring additional staff or resources funded by taxpayers.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires agencies to provide official personnel files to current, departing, and certain former federal employees in electronic and paper form within set timeframes.
Requires federal agencies to give employees and certain former employees timely access to their official personnel record files in both electronic and physical form. Current employees can request records and must receive them within 7 days; employees who separate after enactment automatically get their files within 7 days of separation; people who left before enactment can request files from the Director of OPM and must receive them within 21 days.
Official title: To amend title 5, United States Code, to require agencies to provide official personnel record files to Federal employees and former Federal employees, and for other purposes.
Introduced July 16, 2025 by Julia Brownley · Last progress July 16, 2025