Bill > S1075

This bill, known as the MERIT Act (Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination Act), addresses the reinstatement of federal employees who were terminated during a mass termination event between January 20, 2025, and the bill's enactment date. Specifically, the bill provides protections for probationary employees in the competitive, excepted, or Senior Executive Service who were separated from their positions, defining a mass termination as at least 15 covered separations within a 30-day period. Affected employees are entitled to be reinstated to a similar position in their former agency, with additional provisions for those who may have already found new federal employment. The bill ensures that reinstated employees receive back pay for the period between their termination and reinstatement, with the amount calculated based on their previous salary and any interim earnings. The Office of Personnel Management will determine precise pay details, and each affected agency must notify eligible employees of their rights within 30 days of the bill's enactment. Employees must then respond within 30 days of notification, accepting or declining reinstatement. The bill also requires the Comptroller General to submit a report detailing the mass terminations and mandates the Office of Personnel Management to report on the reinstatement process, providing transparency and accountability for the government's actions.

Budget and Finance

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1075/all-info