Bill > HR2209

This bill establishes a moratorium on workforce reductions at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a federal scientific research agency, which will remain in effect until full-year appropriations for fiscal year 2026 are enacted. During this period, NIST is prohibited from initiating or implementing any reduction in force (RIF) or conducting involuntary separations of employees in the competitive service, excepted service, or Senior Executive Service, with the only exceptions being terminations for cause due to misconduct, delinquency, or inefficiency. The bill defines key employment terms using standard federal employment classifications from Title 5 of the United States Code, such as "competitive service" (traditional merit-based federal jobs), "excepted service" (federal positions with different hiring rules), and "career appointee" (long-term senior executives). This moratorium is intended to provide job security for NIST employees and ensure workforce stability during a potentially uncertain budgetary period, and it does not override existing authorities related to adverse personnel actions.

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https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/2209/all-info