H.R. 1835: MERIT Act
Sponsor
LaMonica McIver
Democrat · NJ-10
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Mar 4, 2025
Referred to Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. for review
Mass-fired federal probationary workers get a way back
Why it matters
If 15 or more probationary federal workers were fired in the same agency within 30 days, H.R. 1835 says they should be offered their jobs back—and paid for lost time. It creates a fast-track process for reinstatement, back pay, and agency-by-agency reporting on the 2025 firings Congress is targeting.
H.R. 1835 is aimed at probationary federal workers who were terminated as part of larger agency firing waves between January 20, 2025, and the day the bill becomes law. Under the bill, a "mass termination" means at least 15 covered separations in one executive agency during a 30-day period tied to the same or related government actions.
If you qualify, your former agency would have to offer you a job that is the same as, or close to, the one you lost. The replacement job also has to match or improve your retirement benefits, health coverage, and leave.
The bill also requires back pay. If you are not already back in another federal job, the payment generally covers what you would have earned from your termination date until you are reappointed. If you already found another federal job, the bill says you would get the pay gap between your old role and the new one for the covered period.
There is a strict timeline. Agencies would have 30 days after enactment to notify eligible workers, workers would have 30 days to accept or reject, and agencies would have another 30 days to place anyone who accepts.
H.R. 1835 also says covered workers are treated as having been involuntarily separated without cause. On top of that, the bill orders two quick reports to Congress—one from the Comptroller General within 60 days on the scale of the terminations, and one from the Office of Personnel Management within 90 days on how many workers were notified and how many came back.
H.R. 1835 Bill Summary
What H.R. 1835 actually does.
Large probationary layoffs trigger return offers
If an executive agency carried out at least 15 covered probationary separations within 30 days as part of the same or related actions, H.R. 1835 says affected workers must be offered a position back in their former agency.
Your old agency has to offer a comparable job
The return job must be the same as, or similar to, the one the worker lost. The bill says retirement benefits, health insurance, and leave must match or exceed the prior job.
Lost pay gets repaid
Covered workers who accept reinstatement would receive lump-sum pay tied to what they would have earned after termination. For workers already in another federal job, the bill pays the difference between the old pay and what they actually earned in the new federal role during the covered period.
Miss the deadline and the offer disappears
Agencies must send notice within 30 days after enactment. Workers then get 30 days to respond, and agencies get 30 more days to make the appointment after an acceptance.
OPM becomes the pay referee
The Office of Personnel Management would determine the pay used for these calculations. Workers can submit pay evidence until 60 days after notice or until OPM makes its decision, whichever comes first.
Congress gets a rapid count of the firings
The Comptroller General must report within 60 days on agency-by-agency separations, reasons for them, and how many workers qualify. OPM then has 90 days to tell Congress how many workers were notified and how many accepted return offers.
Who benefits from H.R. 1835?
Probationary federal workers caught in big agency firing waves
If you were fired during a qualifying mass termination between January 20, 2025, and enactment, H.R. 1835 could give you a legal path back into your former agency.
Workers who have been without a federal paycheck
If you have been out of federal service since the firing, the bill says your payment can cover the stretch from termination until you are rehired.
Workers who took another federal job to stay afloat
You would not be automatically excluded just because you found another federal position. The bill says you could still receive the difference between what your old job would have paid and what the new job paid.
Employees worried about coming back with worse benefits
The bill bars agencies from calling it a return if the new job comes with weaker retirement benefits, health coverage, or leave.
Who is affected by H.R. 1835?
Executive agencies that carried out qualifying layoffs
Agencies would have to identify eligible workers, send notices within 30 days, process responses, and make appointments quickly. They would also need to supply payroll and position information so OPM can calculate back pay.
The Office of Personnel Management
OPM would be responsible for setting the pay figures used in these cases and reporting to Congress on how many workers were notified and rehired.
Workers who miss the response window
If an eligible worker does not answer within 30 days of receiving notice, H.R. 1835 says the right to an appointment is forfeited.
Congress and oversight officials
The bill requires fast reporting on how many people were separated, why they were separated, and whether lawmakers should expand similar relief to other federal workers.
HR1835 Legislative Journey
House: Committee Action
Mar 4, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
About the Sponsor
LaMonica McIver
Democrat, New Jersey's 10th congressional district · 2 years in Congress
Committees: Small Business, Homeland Security
View full profile →
Cosponsors (108)
All 108 cosponsors are Democrats. Cosponsors represent 31 states: Alabama, Arizona, California, and 28 more.
Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick
Democrat · FL
Bonnie Watson Coleman
Democrat · NJ
Dina Titus
Democrat · NV
Juan Vargas
Democrat · CA
Eleanor Norton
Democrat · DC
Nanette Barragán
Democrat · CA
Valerie Foushee
Democrat · NC
Shri Thanedar
Democrat · MI
Ro Khanna
Democrat · CA
John Mannion
Democrat · NY
Raúl Grijalva
Democrat · AZ
Adam Smith
Democrat · WA
Cosponsor Coverage Map
Committee Sponsors
Ways and Means Committee
9 of 45 committee members cosponsored
Oversight and Government Reform Committee
16 of 47 committee members cosponsored
15 Democrats across these committees haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
H.R. 1835 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Ways and Means
- Chamber
- House
- Policy
- Government Operations and Politics
- Introduced
- Mar 4, 2025
Referred to Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. for review
Mar 4, 2025
Official Sources
Official bill page with status, text, cosponsors, and committee referrals for the MERIT Act.
OPM is the agency the bill assigns to determine pay calculations and report to Congress on notices and rehires.
The bill covers employees in the senior executive service as well as competitive and excepted service positions.
The Comptroller General, who heads GAO, is directed by the bill to report on the scale and reasons for the terminations.
GAO’s legal and oversight portal is relevant because the bill requires a formal Comptroller General report to Congress.
Official FEHB information is relevant because the bill requires reinstated jobs to match or improve prior health coverage.
Official retirement program information is relevant because the bill requires reinstated jobs to preserve or improve retirement benefits.
H.R. 1835 Common Questions
Who would qualify for reinstatement under H.R. 1835?
Probationary federal workers fired in a qualifying mass termination between January 20, 2025, and enactment. The bill covers executive-branch workers in the competitive, excepted, and senior executive services, but not temporary appointments.
What counts as a mass termination in H.R. 1835?
At least 15 covered separations in one executive agency during a 30-day period, tied to the same or related government actions. That threshold is what triggers the bill's reinstatement process.
Would fired probationary federal workers get back pay?
Yes—if they accept the return offer. H.R. 1835 says they would receive a lump-sum payment based on what they would have earned after termination, with a different formula for workers already in another federal job.
What if you already found another federal job?
You could still get paid under H.R. 1835. Instead of full back pay, the bill says you would receive the difference between what your old agency job would have paid and what your new federal job actually paid during the covered period.
Does the bill require your old agency to take you back?
Yes. H.R. 1835 says the appointment must be in your former employing agency, and it must be the same as or similar to the job you lost.
How long would you have to accept the offer?
30 days after receiving notice from your agency. If you do not respond in time, H.R. 1835 says you lose the right to the appointment.
Would the return job have to keep your benefits?
Yes. The bill says a similar job must match or improve your retirement benefits, health insurance, and leave compared with your previous position.
Does H.R. 1835 say these workers were fired without cause?
Yes. The bill says covered employees are treated as having been involuntarily separated without cause from their previous federal position.
Based on H.R. 1835 bill text
H.R. 1835 Bill Text
“To require the reinstatement of recently terminated probationary Federal employees, and for other purposes.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
Get notified when H.R. 1835 moves
Committee votes, floor action, cosponsor changes — straight to your inbox.
Bill alerts + Legisletter's monthly briefing. Unsubscribe anytime.
Government Operations and Politics Bills
9 related bills we're tracking
Protect Our Letter Carriers Act of 2025
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Feb 6, 2025
John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Mar 5, 2025
Washington, D.C. Admission Act
Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on Rules, Armed Services, the Judiciary, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Jan 3, 2025
Rights for the TSA Workforce Act
Referred to the Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security.
Mar 11, 2025
DISCLOSE Act of 2026
Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Mar 4, 2026
Federal Retirement Fairness Act
ASSUMING FIRST SPONSORSHIP - Ms. Randall asked unanimous consent that she may hereafter be considered as the first sponsor of H.R. 1522, a bill originally introduced by Representative Connolly, for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII. Agreed to without objection.
Jul 22, 2025
Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act of 2025
Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Sep 30, 2025
FIND Act
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Jan 3, 2025
SAVE America Act
Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
Jan 30, 2026
Trending Right Now
Bills gaining momentum across Congress
Great American Outdoors Act 250
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Jun 24, 2026
American Franchise Act
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 18 - 15.
Jul 21, 2026
Accelerating Access to Dementia and Alzheimer’s Provider Training Act
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Jul 21, 2026
Tracking Government Operations and Politics in Congress? Monitor bills, track cosponsor momentum, and launch advocacy campaigns — all from one advocacy platform.