As part of the deal to end the government shutdown, the bill passed on November 12, 2025, includes provisions to ensure all furloughed federal employees will receive backpay as well as to block reductions in force (RIF) actions. The shutdown, which began on October 1 when Congress failed to pass new spending authorization, was the longest in history at 43 days. During the shutdown, the Administration sent layoff notices to over 4,000 employees at the Departments of Commerce, Education, Health & Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing & Urban Development, Treasury, and the Environmental Protection Agency. The action followed earlier efforts to reduce the federal workforce through deferred resignation packages and other policies.

In a memo to federal agencies sent on November 13, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) wrote: “The legislation provides that no Federal funds may be used to initiate, provide notice of, carry out, or otherwise implement a reduction in force to reduce the number of Federal employees during the period between the date of enactment and January 30, 2026. The Act also requires agencies to rescind certain RIF notices and declares that certain RIF actions taken between October 1, 2025, and November 12, 2025, have no force or effect.”

According to the Economic Policy Institute that has tracked the federal agency reductions, “These continued attacks on federal employees continue to undermine the public sector, weaken the effective operation of countless government programs and public service, and to harm the federal employees who may lose employment or be forced to seek out other jobs due to the uncertainty.”