Prohibition on reducing the laboratory workforce at the Drug Enforcement Agency

(a) In general The laboratory workforce at the Drug Enforcement Administration shall be exempt from any hiring freezes or workforce reductions related to spending cuts, reprogramming of funds, or the probationary status of employees. (b) Rule of construction Nothing in this section may be construed to restrict the authority of the Attorney General to manage the workforce of the Department of Justice under existing procedures in cases of misconduct or poor performance.