EQUALS Act of 2025

This bill, titled the "Ensuring a Qualified Civil Service Act of 2025," significantly modifies probationary and trial periods for federal employees. For most individuals appointed to positions in the competitive service , the probationary period is extended from one year to two years , though preference eligibles will continue to serve a one-year period. Similarly, the bill establishes a new two-year trial period for most employees in the excepted service , with a one-year period for preference eligibles. During these extended periods, employing agencies are mandated to evaluate an employee's fitness and certify that their continued employment advances the public interest before the appointment becomes final; otherwise, the employee will be terminated. The bill also specifies that probationary periods for positions requiring formal training or a license will begin on the appointment date but end two years after the training is completed or the license is granted. Agencies must clearly communicate these terms and provide timely notice of performance requirements to probationary employees. Furthermore, the legislation amends requirements related to adverse actions , increasing the period of current continuous employment needed for certain protections from one year to two years for non-preference eligible employees. This change maintains the one-year requirement for preference eligibles and applies to employees of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The Office of Personnel Management is directed to issue necessary regulations within 180 days of the Act's enactment to implement these provisions.