DOE Layoffs Frozen Until FY 2026 Budget Passes: Job Security for Federal Scientists

The newly introduced Saving DOE’s Workforce Act is doing exactly what it says on the tin: it immediately puts a hard stop on layoffs at the Department of Energy (DOE). If you work for the DOE, or if you’re interested in the stability of federal science and energy programs, this one’s important.

The Freeze Button: No Layoffs Until 2026

This bill implements a complete moratorium on any “reduction in force” (RIF)—that’s bureaucratic speak for layoffs or cutting staff—at the DOE. This freeze is set to last until Congress officially passes the full-year budget for the DOE for Fiscal Year 2026. Think of it as hitting the pause button on any major personnel restructuring for the next couple of years while the funding picture gets sorted out. The goal is clear: stabilize the workforce during a period of potential budget uncertainty.

The Fine Print on Firing

While the bill stops mass layoffs, it doesn't mean employees are completely untouchable. The act makes a specific exception: the DOE can still fire career employees—which includes those in the competitive service, excepted service, and the Senior Executive Service (SES)—but only for a very specific, serious reason. We’re talking about proven misconduct, serious rule-breaking (delinquency), or documented poor job performance (inefficiency). They can’t just restructure someone out of a job; they have to have a rock-solid, documented case for cause. This provision is essentially adding a layer of protection, ensuring that any dismissals that occur during the freeze are strictly disciplinary and not part of a cost-cutting measure. It also clarifies that this protection adds to, rather than replaces, existing disciplinary rules (like those in chapter 75 of title 5, U.S. Code).

Who Benefits and Who’s Stuck?

For the thousands of scientists, engineers, and administrative staff at the DOE, this is a huge win for stability. If you’re a career employee at a national lab or a DOE office, you get significant job security until the 2026 budget is finalized, allowing you to focus on critical energy and research projects without the stress of potential job loss hanging over you. This helps preserve institutional knowledge, which is crucial for long-term projects.

On the flip side, this bill severely ties the hands of DOE management. If a manager identifies an area that needs streamlining or a team that needs to be reduced for efficiency (not due to misconduct), they can’t make those changes until the moratorium lifts. This means management’s ability to conduct routine, non-cause-based restructuring is blocked. For taxpayers, this could mean that if there are areas where personnel reductions could save money or improve efficiency, those changes are delayed, potentially costing more in the long run. The trade-off here is stability now versus flexibility and potential efficiency later.