Saving NASA’s Workforce Act

Legislative Summary: H.R. 2210 - Saving NASA’s Workforce Act

Overview

H.R. 2210, titled the Saving NASA’s Workforce Act, is a targeted piece of legislation introduced in the 119th Congress. The primary intent of the bill is to protect the personnel of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) from layoffs and involuntary terminations during a specific transitional budgetary period.

Main Purpose and Intent

The bill seeks to establish a moratorium on reductions in force (RIF) and involuntary separations. By prohibiting these actions, the bill aims to ensure stability within NASA's workforce and prevent the loss of specialized talent until the federal government has finalized the full-year appropriations budget for the agency for fiscal year 2026.

Key Provisions

The bill introduces two primary restrictions on NASA's management of its personnel:

• Prohibition of Reductions in Force: The Administration is barred from initiating or implementing any "reduction in force" (systematic layoffs).
• Ban on Involuntary Separations: The bill prohibits the involuntary separation of employees across three specific categories:
  • Employees in the competitive service.
  • Career employees in the excepted service.
  • Career appointees in the Senior Executive Service (SES).

Important Exception: These protections do not shield employees from termination "for cause." NASA may still terminate employees based on charges of misconduct, delinquency, or inefficiency.

Who is Affected?

This bill specifically impacts the leadership and staff of NASA. The protections apply to a broad spectrum of the agency's workforce, from general civil service employees (competitive service) to high-level career executives (SES).

Timeline and Procedural Status

• Effective Duration: The moratorium remains in effect until the date that full-year appropriations for NASA for fiscal year 2026 have been enacted into law.
• Current Status: The bill was introduced on March 18, 2025, and has been referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology for review.

Summary Table