Summary

Extends civil-service removal protections to certain Federal employees who were promoted and are serving a probationary or trial period after promotion, allowing them to be covered by the civil-service due process statutes that normally protect career employees. It also allows such promoted employees who were removed from covered positions between January 20, 2025 and the date of enactment to elect reinstatement to the same or an equivalent position with backpay. Political appointees and other specified noncareer positions are excluded from these protections.

• Promoted employees serving a probationary or trial period are made subject to civil-service due process protections for adverse actions.
• Competitive service, career excepted service, and career SES promotions are covered under chapter 75 (title 5) where applicable.
• VA promotions while on probation/trial are covered under 38 U.S.C. §714.
• Individuals removed from covered positions between Jan 20, 2025 and enactment may elect reinstatement to the same or equivalent position with backpay under 5 U.S.C. §5596.
• Political appointees (Executive Schedule positions), noncareer appointees, and Schedule C positions are explicitly excluded.
• Key appointment and personnel terms are defined by reference to existing Title 5, Title 38, Executive Schedule, and regulatory definitions.
• Agencies must apply formal removal and appeals procedures to promoted probationary/trial employees who become covered, potentially increasing administrative and payroll actions.
• The retroactive remedy is elective and limited to a specific date range for removals.