[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 357 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 357

      To impose restrictions on Federal agencies with respect to 
                 appointments, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            February 3, 2025

Mrs. Blackburn introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
      To impose restrictions on Federal agencies with respect to 
                 appointments, 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 ``Federal Freeze Act''.

SEC. 2. FREEZE ON FEDERAL HIRING AND SALARIES.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Agency.--The term ``agency'' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 551 of title 5, United States Code.
            (2) Baseline number.--The term ``baseline number'' means, 
        with respect to an agency, the number of employees employed by 
        the agency (including individuals occupying full-time 
        equivalent positions in the agency), as of the date of 
        enactment of this Act.
            (3) Employee.--The term ``employee'' means an employee of 
        an agency.
    (b) General Prohibitions.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
law or regulation, during the 1-year period beginning on the date of 
enactment of this Act, the following shall apply:
            (1)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the head of 
        an agency may not increase the number of employees employed by 
        the agency beyond the baseline number.
            (B) During the 1-year period beginning on the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the head of an agency may appoint an 
        individual to a position within the agency, even if appointing 
        that individual would increase the number of employees employed 
        by the agency beyond the baseline number, if the agency head 
        determines that--
                    (i) making that appointment serves the interest of 
                law enforcement, public safety, or the national 
                security of the United States; or
                    (ii) the individual so appointed is essential to 
                respond to an emergency declared under section 501 of 
                the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
                Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5191).
            (2) The annual rate of basic pay of an employee, as in 
        effect on the date of enactment of this Act, may not be 
        increased.
    (c) Reduction in Force.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the head of each 
        agency shall take such measures, without regard to any other 
        provision of law or regulation, to ensure that--
                    (A) as of the date that is 2 years after the date 
                of enactment of this Act, the number of employees 
                employed by the agency is 2 percent less than the 
                baseline number; and
                    (B) as of the date that is 3 years after the date 
                of enactment of this Act, the number of employees 
                employed by the agency is 5 percent less than the 
                baseline number.
            (2) Exemption.--An employee who the head of the employing 
        agency determines serves the interest of law enforcement, 
        public safety, or the national security of the United States, 
        or who is essential to respond to an emergency declared under 
        section 501 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
        Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5191) (as determined by 
        that agency head), shall not apply for the purposes of 
        determining the number of employees employed by that agency 
        under subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1).
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