For one year, most federal agencies couldn't hire new employees (with exceptions for law enforcement, national security, public safety, and emergency responders), and federal workers couldn't receive pay raises. Over the next three years, every agency would have to cut its workforce by 5 percent through attrition and reductions-in-force. Roughly 2.2 million federal civilian workers would be affected; agencies like the VA, Social Security Administration, and IRS — which handle direct service to the public — would need to manage existing workloads with fewer people. Supporters frame it as a cost-cutting measure; federal employee unions oppose it as a cut to services Americans rely on.
Congressional Summary
Federal Freeze ActThis bill bars pay raises for federal employees for one year and requires reductions in the number of employees at each federal agency.The bill prohibits agencies from increasing the basic pay of any employee for one year after enactment. Also in that first year, the bill prohibits each federal agency from increasing the number of its employees beyond the number employed on the date of the bill's enactment, except that the agency may increase such number (1) when making appointments to positions related to law enforcement, public safety, or national security; or (2) if the individual so appointed is essential to emergency response under the Stafford Act. (The Stafford Act authorizes the President to issue declarations that provide states, tribes, and localities with a range of federal assistance in response to natural disasters and man-made incidents).Additionally, the bill requires reductions in force such that within three years of the bill's enactment the number of employees at each agency is 5% lower than it was on the date of the bill's enactment. Employees that serve the interest of law enforcement, public safety, or national security or are essential to emergency response under the Stafford Act are not counted for the purposes of determining the number of employees at each agency.
Legislative Subjects
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- Senate
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in Senate
- Action Date
- 2025-02-03
- Date Added
- 2026-04-21
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