Saving the Civil Service Act

This legislation, known as the "Saving the Civil Service Act," aims to significantly limit the ability of federal agencies to move positions from the competitive service to the excepted service. It mandates that any such exceptions must adhere to the schedules (A through E) and conditions outlined in federal regulations as they existed on September 30, 2020, effectively preventing the creation of new excepted service categories.

The bill introduces several restrictions on transferring positions, including requiring the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) prior consent for moving any occupied position into Schedule C. It also establishes a quantitative limit, prohibiting agencies from transferring more than 1% of their workforce or 5 employees, whichever is greater, from the competitive to the excepted service during any 4-year presidential term.

Crucially, the Act requires the prior written consent of an employee before their position can be transferred from the competitive service to the excepted service. The OPM Director is also tasked with submitting an annual report to Congress detailing all such transfers, their justifications, and any violations of these new provisions.