MERIT Act of 2025
Summary
The MERIT Act of 2025 would modify federal employment law to change how federal agencies can remove or discipline employees for poor performance or misconduct. The bill would eliminate certain existing performance-based removal procedures and establish new alternative removal processes. It would also restrict employees' ability to appeal adverse actions and reductions in force through grievance procedures.
The legislation would affect various categories of federal workers, including senior executives, supervisors, and competitive service employees. The bill would extend probationary periods for new hires in senior executive and competitive service positions. Additionally, it would authorize agencies to recoup bonuses and awards if performance or conduct issues are later discovered, and would reduce retirement benefits for employees convicted of felonies related to their official duties.
The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform but has not yet been voted on by the full chamber. It currently has limited support for passage.
