S. 2596
119th CONGRESS 1st Session
To institute a reduction in force moratorium at the Forest Service, and for other purposes.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES · July 31, 2025 · Sponsor: Mr. Heinrich · Committee: Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
Table of contents
SEC. 1. Short title
- This Act may be cited as the Saving the Forest Service's Workforce Act.
SEC. 2. Reduction in force moratorium at the Forest Service
- (a) In general
- Until on or after the date that full-year appropriations for the Forest Service for fiscal year 2026 have been enacted into law, the Secretary of Agriculture (acting through the Chief of the Forest Service) may not—
- initiate or implement any reduction in force at the Forest Service; or
- conduct an involuntary separation of any employee in the competitive service, any career employee in the excepted service, or any career appointee in the Senior Executive Service of the Forest Service except for cause on charges of misconduct, delinquency, or performance.
- Until on or after the date that full-year appropriations for the Forest Service for fiscal year 2026 have been enacted into law, the Secretary of Agriculture (acting through the Chief of the Forest Service) may not—
- (b) Application
- For the purposes of carrying out subsection (a)—
- the terms , , and have the meanings given those terms in sections 2102, 2103, and 3132(a), respectively, of title 5, United States Code; and
competitive serviceexcepted servicecareer appointee - such subsection shall be in addition to any other authority with respect to adverse personnel actions, including of title 5, United States Code. chapter 75
- the terms , , and have the meanings given those terms in sections 2102, 2103, and 3132(a), respectively, of title 5, United States Code; and
- For the purposes of carrying out subsection (a)—