Protect Our Probationary Employees Act

Chris Van Hollen

Democrat · MD · Senator

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Mark R. Warner (D-VA)Original· 2025-03-10
• Tim Kaine (D-VA)· 2025-03-11
• Angela D. Alsobrooks (D-MD)· 2025-03-13
• Christopher A. Coons (D-DE)· 2025-03-27
• Martin Heinrich (D-NM)· 2026-02-25

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

2025-03-10

Source: Congress.gov

This bill would change the rules for federal employees during their first few years on the job, likely making it easier for agencies to fire or discipline probationary workers without going through lengthy appeals processes. The measure affects new federal employees across government agencies who are still in their initial employment period, potentially giving managers more flexibility to remove workers they consider underperforming. The bill has been sent to the Senate committee that oversees federal workforce and government operations.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 918 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 918 To allow Federal employees who are involuntarily separated from Government service while serving a probationary or trial period to resume that period upon reinstatement, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 10, 2025 Mr. Van Hollen (for himself and Mr. Warner) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To allow Federal employees who are involuntarily separated from Government service while serving a probationary or trial period to resume that period upon reinstatement, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Protect Our Probationary Employees Act''. SEC. 2. RESUMPTION OF PROBATIONARY PERIOD. (a) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Covered appointment.--The term ``covered appointment'' means an appointment of a covered probationary employee to a position in the former employing agency of that covered probationary employee that, to the extent practicable, is the same as the previous Federal position occupied by that covered probationary employee. (2) Covered probationary employee.--The term ``covered probationary employee'' means an individual who-- (A) is, or was, involuntarily separated from Government service during the period beginning on January 20, 2025, and ending on the date described in subsection (c); and (B) immediately before the involuntary separation described in subparagraph (A), occupied a position in an Executive agency under which the individual served a probationary or trial period under an initial appointment. (3) Executive agency.--The term ``Executive agency'' has the meaning given the term in section 105 of title 5, United States Code. (4) Former employing agency.--With respect to a covered probationary employee, the term ``former employing agency'' means the Executive agency from which the involuntary separation of that individual made that individual a covered probationary employee. (5) Previous federal position.--The term ``previous Federal position'' means, with respect to a covered probationary employee, the position in an Executive agency occupied by the covered probationary employee immediately before becoming a covered probationary employee. (b) Resumption of Probationary Period.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the duration of the probationary or trial period for a covered appointment of a covered probationary employee to become final shall be equal to the difference between-- (1) the duration of that probationary or trial period that, but for this Act, would apply to that covered appointment; and (2) the duration of the probationary or trial period that the covered probationary employee served in the previous Federal position of that covered probationary employee, to the extent that such duration does not exceed the duration described in paragraph (1). (c) Sunset.--This Act shall terminate on January 20, 2029. <all>

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