New Bill Puts Temporary Freeze on Layoffs at NIST Until 2026 Budget is Finalized

The “Saving NIST’s Workforce Act” is short and to the point: it immediately stops the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) from carrying out certain types of layoffs. Specifically, it puts a moratorium on any “reduction in force” (RIF) actions using the rules found in sections 3501 through 3504 and 3595 of title 5, U.S. Code.

The Pause Button on Pink Slips

Think of a RIF as the formal, government way of saying “layoffs.” This bill hits the pause button on those specific procedures for NIST employees. The ban isn’t permanent, though; it lasts until Congress passes and enacts the full-year budget appropriations for NIST for fiscal year 2026. If you work at NIST, this means you get a solid chunk of job security during a period when budget negotiations often leave federal workers guessing about their future. NIST is critical for everything from atomic clocks to cybersecurity standards, so keeping their scientific staff focused on the work, rather than worrying about their jobs, is the clear intent here.

What This Means for the Workforce

For the thousands of scientists, engineers, and support staff at NIST, this bill is a huge relief. It essentially guarantees that their jobs won't be cut due to budget uncertainty for the next year or so. This stability is good for ongoing projects—you don’t want the team working on the next generation of encryption standards to suddenly lose key members because the budget hasn’t been finalized. It ensures continuity in important, long-term research that benefits consumers and industry.

The Fine Print: What’s Not Covered

While this bill provides protection against RIFs, it’s crucial to understand what it doesn’t do. The legislation explicitly states that this moratorium does not affect NIST’s authority to take other “adverse personnel actions,” including those covered under chapter 75 of title 5, U.S. Code. Chapter 75 covers actions like firing, suspension, or demotion for performance issues or misconduct. In plain terms: this bill protects employees from being laid off due to agency funding cuts, but it doesn't protect them from being disciplined or fired for cause. NIST management retains its ability to manage staff performance, even if their flexibility to restructure the workforce through mass layoffs is temporarily curtailed. This is a common structure in workforce protection bills—it aims to stabilize the agency without removing accountability.