Sponsors (9)
The bill increases transparency, oversight, and protections by limiting long‑term use of SGEs and publishing adviser information, but it raises administrative costs, may reduce agencies' access to outside experts, and creates privacy/security and transition risks that could deter qualified advisers.
Long‑serving special government employees (SGEs) who exceed the new limit will be converted into regular federal employees, giving them formal employment protections, benefits, and clearer status.
A uniform 130‑day limit on SGE service creates a clear rule that reduces legal ambiguity and standardizes classification across executive branch entities.
Agencies must provide written notice and appeal rights when SGE status ends, improving procedural fairness and agency accountability for employment decisions.
Agencies and taxpayers will face increased administrative and hiring costs to reclassify, onboard, notify OPM, maintain disclosure databases, and publish required information.
Agencies may lose timely access to outside expertise because SGEs approaching the 130‑day cap could be unavailable for short or intermittent consulting assignments.
Public posting of names, roles, pay, and financial disclosures will reduce privacy for covered SGEs and could expose some individuals to safety or security risks (necessitating redactions).
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Limits SGE service to 130 days per 365-day period, requires reclassification after the cap, and creates a public OPM database plus public posting of covered SGEs' financial disclosures.
Introduced March 27, 2025 by Ben Ray Luján · Last progress March 27, 2025
Creates a firm 130-day limit on how long an individual can serve as a special Government employee (SGE) within any 365-day period and requires agencies to reclassify and place people who exceed that cap into the appropriate civil service status within 30 days. Directs the Office of Personnel Management (in consultation with the Office of Government Ethics) to build and maintain a public, searchable database of covered SGEs and to make covered SGEs' financial disclosure reports publicly available, with limited exceptions. Requires agencies to follow specific day-counting rules, provide written notice and appeal rights after reclassification, post and update appointment and financial information, meet accessibility and API standards for the database, and submit to OPM audits and a 3-year report to designated congressional leaders and oversight committees.