The Probationary Reduction for Employee Protections Act (PREP Act) would shorten the probationary periods for federal hires at initial appointment across major federal employment categories. Introduced by Rep. Beyer and several cosponsors in April 2025, the bill amends Title 5 of the U.S. Code to cap probationary periods at either 6 months or 12 months, depending on whether the individual previously held a civil service position in the executive branch. The changes apply to the Competitive Service, the Excepted Service, the Senior Executive Service (SES), and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The goal is to accelerate the transition from probationary to permanent status while preserving a performance review period, though it also reduces the time agencies have to assess fit before making a permanent appointment. Key structural changes include adding a new probationary standard for the Excepted Service, adjusting SES probationary rules, and reconfiguring IRS probationary provisions. The bill does not specify an explicit retroactive date; as introduced, it would take effect through amendments to existing statutes once enacted.
Key Points
- 1Competitive Service: Adds a new 3321(d) limiting the probationary period for an initial appointment to 6 months if the appointee previously held an executive-branch civil service position, or 12 months if not.
- 2Excepted Service: Creates a new Sec. 3330g establishing probationary limits for initial appointments to the Excepted Service at 6 months (for those who previously held executive-branch civil service positions) or 12 months (for others), and inserts the new section into the table of sections for Chapter 33.
- 3Senior Executive Service: Amends 3393(d) to require a 6-month probationary period if the individual previously held an executive-branch civil service position, or 12 months in all other cases.
- 4Internal Revenue Service: Reorganizes and simplifies the probationary provisions by striking the current subsection (d) of 9510 and renumbering the subsequent subsection, effectively aligning IRS probationary treatment with the new framework.
- 5Administration and scope: The bill applies to initial appointments across Competitive Service, Excepted Service, SES, and IRS probationary periods, creating uniform shorter timeframes for performance evaluation and determination of permanent status where applicable.