EQUALS Act of 2025
Summary
This change would apply to federal workers in competitive service positions, giving agencies a longer evaluation period before making employment permanent.
If enacted, the bill would have minimal fiscal impact. The bill has passed committee review and is eligible for a floor vote, though it has not yet been enacted into law.
AI-generated summary
Lifecycle of the Bill
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Dec 2, 2025
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 24 - 19.
Dec 2, 2025
Dec 2, 2025 · 15:00
the Full Committee to consider the following: 1) H.R. 151, the Equal Representation Act; 2) H.R. 5750, the Ensuring a Qualified Civil Service Act of 2025; 3) H.R. 5749, the Official Time Reporting Act; 4) H.R. 5810, the Federal Supervisor Education Act of 2025; 5) H.R. 6330, Federal Relocation Payment Improvement Act; 6) H.R. 6329, Information Quality Assurance Act of 2025; 7) H.R. 3766, a bill to prohibit the District of Columbia from requiring tribunals in court or administrative proceedings in the District of Columbia to defer to the Mayor of the District of Columbia's interpretation of statutes and regulations, and for other purposes; 8) H.R. 5457, the Strengthening Agency Management and Oversight of Software Assets Act; 9) H.R. 5235, Skills-Based Federal Contracting Act; 10) H.R. 5578 Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act of 2025; 11) H.R. 143, Unauthorized Spending Accountability Act; 12) Several postal naming measures
Summary
The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held a full committee hearing on December 2, 2025, to consider a broad package of legislation affecting federal government operations and the civil service. The bills addressed multiple policy areas including census and representation, federal workforce management, government efficiency, and postal facility naming measures. Among the major bills considered was H.R. 151, the Equal Representation Act, which would require the decennial census to include a citizenship question and modify congressional apportionment to exclude noncitizens from the population count used to determine House representation. The committee also examined H.R. 5750, the Ensuring a Qualified Civil Service Act of 2025, which would extend probationary periods for federal employees in the competitive service from one year to two years, allowing agencies more time to evaluate employee fitness and performance. Additional bills addressed official time reporting for federal employees, federal supervisor education requirements, relocation payment improvements, information quality standards for federal agencies, whistleblower protections for contractors, and unauthorized spending accountability. The hearing also included consideration of H.R. 3766, which would restrict the District of Columbia from requiring deference to the Mayor's interpretation of statutes and regulations in court proceedings, along with several bills to designate postal facilities. No witness testimony was recorded for this hearing. The committee voted on final passage of multiple bills during the session, though a hearing does not guarantee that bills will advance further in the legislative process.
Video
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. H. Rept. 119-604.
Apr 9, 2026
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. H. Rept. 119-604.
Apr 9, 2026
