Sponsors (7)
The bill preserves DOI career jobs, due process, and continuity of services during an appropriations gap, but does so by increasing short-term personnel costs and constraining DOI management's ability to adjust workforce size or implement efficiency changes.
State governments and the public: receive uninterrupted Department of the Interior (DOI) services because workforce reductions are paused until FY2026 appropriations are enacted, reducing service disruption during an appropriations gap.
DOI career employees: are protected from involuntary layoffs until FY2026 appropriations are enacted, preserving jobs and paychecks.
DOI career employees: gain stronger due-process protections because any involuntary separation must be based on findings of misconduct, delinquency, or performance.
DOI leadership and mission delivery: are constrained in adjusting workforce size or timing reforms, likely delaying restructurings and efficiency measures and reducing managerial flexibility during the interim period.
Taxpayers and budget managers: may face higher near-term personnel costs because DOI is prevented from reducing staff during a funding lapse or before appropriations are enacted.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Prevents the Interior Department from starting reductions‑in‑force or involuntary separations of most career DOI employees until full‑year FY2026 DOI appropriations are enacted, except for cause.
Introduced August 1, 2025 by Jared Huffman · Last progress August 1, 2025
Prohibits the Department of the Interior from carrying out reductions-in-force or involuntary separations of most career DOI employees until Congress enacts full-year FY2026 appropriations for the Department. Involuntary separations remain allowed only for cause (misconduct, delinquency, or performance); other adverse action authorities continue to apply.