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Congress·In Committee·about 1 year ago

Congressional bill would limit agencies from reclassifying federal jobs and require OPM approval and worker consent

Also known as: Saving the Civil Service Act

Legislative Progress

✓ Filed
Review
Senate
House
President

Impacts

Positive Impacts(1)
Federal Employee
Helps

Key Points

  • Limits when agencies can move jobs out of the normal merit-based hiring system and into special categories.
  • Requires the Office of Personnel Management director to approve before an agency can move an occupied job into political appointment-style slots.
  • Caps how many employees an agency can shift from the normal civil service to special categories during a 4-year presidential term (1% of the agency or 5 people, whichever is larger).
  • Says an employee has to agree in writing before their job can be moved from the regular civil service into a special category, or between special categories.
  • Requires yearly public reporting to Congress on which jobs were shifted and why, plus any violations, and requires new rules within 90 days of enactment.
Labor EmploymentCivil Rights

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Jan 16, 2025Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Jan 16, 2025

Introduced in Senate

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

Soon after OPM issues the regulations

Agencies update internal HR processes to comply with OPM’s rules (approvals, consent forms, and tracking transfer caps)

If you work for the federal government, you may see new paperwork and more formal steps before your job can be moved to a different service category

Related News

3 articles
Government Executive·5 months ago

Virginia lawmaker takes over advocacy for federal workforce bills

Rep. James Walkinshaw assumes lead sponsorship for several federal workforce bills, including the Saving the Civil Service Act (H.R. 492) aimed at limiting reclassification of civil service jobs into special categories.

C=
Government Executive·about 1 year ago

Last-ditch effort to block Schedule F’s return thwarted by Senate Republicans

Covers a Senate floor attempt to advance the Saving the Civil Service Act and summarizes key provisions such as requiring OPM Director consent for moving occupied jobs into Schedule C and limiting conversions during a presidential term.

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FedScoop·about 1 year ago

Trump restores Schedule F via executive order

Discusses the executive action reestablishing Schedule F and references ongoing congressional efforts to protect merit-based civil service rules; provides context for why the Saving the Civil Service Act has been promoted.

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Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Saving the Civil Service Act

Bill NumberS 134
Congress119th Congress
ChamberSenate
Latest ActionRead twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(23)
D: 21I: 2

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.