Top Democrats on the House and Senate energy, natural resources and agriculture committees introduced bills to halt planned firings at the Interior Department, the Forest Service and the Department of Energy.
The bills, introduced Monday, aim to place a moratorium on any reduction in force (RIF) at the agencies while Congress reviews their staffing needs. The bills come after months of turmoil stemming from the Trump administration’s efforts to cull the federal workforce.
The House bills are being led by Natural Resources ranking member Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) and Science, Space and Technology ranking member Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.).
In the Senate, the bills are being led by Energy and Natural Resources ranking member Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Environment and Public Works ranking member Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Agriculture ranking member Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.).
