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Congress·In Committee·H.R. 6028

Rep. Griffith Proposes Giving Congress Power to Hire and Fire Library of Congress and GPO Leaders

Legislative Branch Agencies Clarification Act

4 months ago·View on Congress.gov

Legislative Progress

House
Senate
President
Law

Key Points

  • The bill shifts hiring and firing power for the Librarian of Congress from the President to a bipartisan congressional commission. Committee leaders would recommend three candidates, and top House and Senate leaders would pick from that list by majority vote.

    From policy text

    “The Librarian shall be appointed by the commission in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (2), without regard to political affiliation, and solely on the basis of fitness to perform the duties of the office.”
    View in full text
  • The same commission-based appointment and removal process applies to the Director of the Government Publishing Office, removing the Senate confirmation requirement and giving Congress direct control over that agency's leadership.

    From policy text

    “The Director shall be appointed by the commission in accordance with the procedures specified in subparagraph (B), without regard to political affiliation, and solely on the basis of fitness to perform the duties of the office.”
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  • The Copyright Office would become independent from the Library of Congress. The Register of Copyrights would be appointed by the President with Senate confirmation for a 10-year term, and would take over many authorities currently held by the Librarian of Congress.

    From policy text

    “The Register of Copyrights shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate”
    View in full text
  • A new Inspector General would be established specifically for the Copyright Office, separate from the Library of Congress Inspector General, to provide independent oversight of copyright operations.

    From policy text

    “The Inspector General shall have no oversight authority with respect to the Copyright Office.”
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  • The Government Publishing Office would create a new merit-based human capital management system for its workers, requiring that employees be hired and promoted based on merit and fitness, with protections against prohibited personnel practices.

    From policy text

    “ensure that officers and employees of the Government Publishing Office are appointed, promoted, and assigned only on the basis of merit and fitness”
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  • The bill ratifies all actions taken by the Copyright Office, Register of Copyrights, Copyright Royalty Judges, and Copyright Claims Board since May 8, 2025, giving them full legal force retroactively.

    From policy text

    “Each action taken under title 17, United States Code, by the Copyright Office, the Register of Copyrights, the Copyright Royalty Judges, or the Copyright Claims Board during the period beginning on May 8, 2025, and ending on the date of enactment of this Act is ratified”
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Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Nov 12, 2025House

Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Nov 12, 2025

Introduced in House

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

Upon enactment

New appointment and removal rules for the Librarian of Congress and GPO Director take effect

Congress would gain direct power to hire and fire these agency heads, replacing the current Presidential appointment process

180 days after enactment

GPO human capital management system takes effect 180 days after enactment

GPO workers would shift to a new merit-based employment system outside the normal federal competitive service rules

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Legislative Branch Agencies Clarification Act

Bill NumberHR 6028
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReferred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(2)
R: 2

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.