Saving the Department of the Interior's Workforce Act
Summary
The "Saving the Department of the Interior's Workforce Act" proposes a moratorium on reductions in force (RIF) within the Department of the Interior (DOI) until full-year appropriations for fiscal year 2026 are enacted. This prevents the Secretary of the Interior from initiating RIFs or involuntarily separating employees. The bill aims to protect the jobs of employees in the competitive service, excepted service, and Senior Executive Service, except in cases of misconduct, delinquency, or performance issues.
Expected Effects
The immediate effect would be to halt any planned or potential workforce reductions within the DOI. This provides job security for DOI employees in various service categories. However, it could also limit the department's flexibility in managing its workforce and budget.
Potential Benefits
- Job Security: Prevents involuntary job losses for DOI employees.
- Employee Morale: Reduces anxiety and uncertainty among the workforce.
- Continuity of Operations: Maintains current staffing levels, ensuring consistent service delivery.
- Preservation of Expertise: Retains experienced personnel within the department.
- Potential Economic Stability: Stabilizes the local economies where DOI employees reside.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- Reduced Flexibility: Limits the DOI's ability to restructure or streamline its workforce.
- Potential Inefficiency: May retain underperforming employees who cannot be easily separated.
- Budgetary Constraints: Could strain the department's budget if funding levels are reduced.
- Delayed Modernization: May hinder efforts to modernize the workforce through attrition and strategic hiring.
- Possible Disincentive: Could disincentivize performance improvements if job security is guaranteed regardless of performance.
Most Disadvantaged Areas:
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the Constitution, as it pertains to the legislative power to appropriate funds and set policy for government agencies (Article I, Section 8). It does not appear to infringe on individual rights or liberties protected by the Constitution or its amendments. The bill's focus on workforce management within a specific government department falls within the purview of congressional authority.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).