Saving NSF’s Workforce Act
Saving NSF's Workforce Act would place a temporary freeze on workforce reductions at the National Science Foundation (NSF) until full-year funding for FY 2026 is enacted. During the moratorium, NSF may not initiate or implement reductions in force (RIF) or involuntarily sever employees in the competitive service, the excepted service, or any Senior Executive Service (SES) career appointee, except for cause (misconduct, delinquency, or inefficiency). The bill preserves existing authorities for adverse personnel actions and relies on definitions of federal personnel terms from the U.S. Code. In short, the measure aims to protect NSF staff from layoffs during budget impasses, while allowing for involuntary actions only when there is justified cause.
Key Points
- 1Moratorium scope and duration: A temporary ban on RIFs and involuntary separations at NSF until full-year FY2026 appropriations are enacted into law.
- 2Involuntary separations allowed only for cause: Any such action would require justification related to misconduct, delinquency, or inefficiency.
- 3Coverage of personnel categories: Applies to NSF employees in the competitive service, the excepted service, and career appointees in the Senior Executive Service (SES).
- 4Legal framework: The moratorium is in addition to existing authorities for adverse personnel actions (e.g., Chapter 75 of Title 5 U.S.C.).
- 5Limitation and lifecycle: The moratorium ends when Congress enacts the full-year FY2026 appropriation, not before.