Keep USGS Strong Act

The Keep USGS Strong Act would shield the United States Geological Survey (USGS) from a federal hiring freeze and from reductions in force, and it would require that any cancellation of USGS real estate leases receive approval from the USGS Director. The bill notes the USGS’s critical roles—such as monitoring earthquakes, tracking water quality and availability, mapping and geospatial data, studying natural hazards and ecosystems, and providing open scientific data—arguing that workforce stability and lease continuity are essential to public safety, disaster readiness, and long-term resource management. The exemptions apply provided Congress has enacted an appropriation for USGS salaries and expenses.