This bill would stop the federal government from cutting jobs or freezing hiring at public naval shipyards. It protects many roles—like welders, pipefitters, shipfitters, mechanics, painters, engineers, apprentices, and jobs that support nuclear maintenance, infrastructure, and the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program—from workforce cuts tied to budget moves or employee probation status . It still allows the Defense Department to handle cases of misconduct or poor performance under its normal rules .

• Who is affected: Workers at public naval shipyards and support roles listed above .
• What changes: These jobs would be exempt from hiring freezes and workforce reductions related to spending cuts or fund shifts; probationary employees are also protected from cuts for those reasons .
• What stays the same: The Defense Department can still take action for misconduct or poor performance .