Improved transparency and justifications for significant reductions in force

(a) Prohibition Except as provided in subsection (b), during any 6-month period, a covered agency may not separate more than 50 employees from service pursuant to 1 or more reductions in force. (b) Requirements A covered agency may separate more than 50 employees from service pursuant to 1 or more reductions in force during a 6-month period only if, before carrying out the reduction in force that would cause the covered agency to violate subsection (a), the covered agency— (1) not later than 20 days before submitting a notice of the reduction in force to affected employees, submits to the appropriate congressional committees of jurisdiction a detailed explanation of the reduction in force that includes— (A) the steps the covered agency has taken to exhaust all other options before carrying out the proposed reduction in force, including whether the covered agency considered reassigning the employees to an equivalent position; (B) the justification for the reduction in force; (C) an assessment of whether the proposed reduction in force will negatively impact the covered agency’s ability to carry out its mission and obligations required by statute; (D) an assessment of how the proposed reduction in force will affect United States diplomatic presence and engagement and the United States ability to compete with adversaries; and (E) with respect to employees in the civil service, information about how the covered agency has complied with— (i) subchapter I of chapter 35 of title 5, United States Code; and (ii) part 351 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation); and (2) briefs the appropriate congressional committees of jurisdiction on the justification for the reduction in force and the other criteria described in paragraph (1).