This bill temporarily prohibits the Department of Energy from reducing its workforce until full-year appropriations for fiscal year 2026 are enacted, except in cases of employee misconduct or inefficiency.
Zoe Lofgren
Representative
CA-18
The Saving DOE's Workforce Act prohibits the Department of Energy from conducting workforce reductions or involuntary employee separations until full-year appropriations for fiscal year 2026 are enacted. This moratorium excludes actions due to misconduct, delinquency, or inefficiency and applies to employees in the competitive service, excepted service, and Senior Executive Service. The new law does not override any other authorities regarding adverse personnel actions.
Department of Energy Layoff Freeze Proposed: Bill Halts Workforce Reductions Until FY2026 Budget Passes
Here's the lowdown on the 'Saving DOEs Workforce Act': this proposed legislation puts a temporary stop sign on most layoffs and involuntary separations at the Department of Energy (DOE). Specifically, it prevents the DOE from initiating workforce reductions for employees in the competitive service, excepted service, or the Senior Executive Service until a full-year budget for Fiscal Year 2026 is officially signed into law. The core idea is to stabilize the agency's workforce during potential budget uncertainties.
Hitting Pause on DOE Pink Slips
So, what does this freeze actually cover? Think of it like a company-wide pause on restructuring that affects permanent staff. The bill explicitly blocks the DOE from implementing reductions in force (RIFs) or forcing employees out before the FY2026 appropriations are finalized. However, this isn't a free pass for everyone. The moratorium doesn't apply if an employee is let go for specific reasons like "misconduct, delinquency, or inefficiency," as outlined in Section 2. Essentially, performance issues or breaking rules are still grounds for dismissal. The bill uses standard government definitions for employee types, referencing title 5 of the United States Code, so the rules apply consistently across different job classifications within the agency.
What This Freeze Really Means
For the thousands working at the DOE, this bill offers a measure of job security, shielding them from potential agency-wide cuts driven purely by budget delays or reductions until the FY2026 funding picture is clear. It aims to keep the current team in place, ensuring that ongoing projects and agency functions continue without disruption caused by staffing gaps. On the flip side, this temporary measure could limit the DOE's flexibility. If the agency identified a need to reorganize or streamline certain divisions for efficiency before the FY2026 budget is set (and not related to firing underperforming staff), this bill would likely prevent those changes until the moratorium lifts.