The legislative shield that has protected federal employees from Reductions in Force (RIFs) for the past few months is about to be replaced by a simple “notification” requirement. As reported by FEDweek, the new spending package advancing in Congress—specifically the bill covering Commerce, Justice, and Science agencies—seeks detailed data on workforce cuts but notably does not extend the ban on future layoffs.
This shift signals a critical transition in 2026: Congress is moving from preventing downsizing to merely monitoring it. For federal employees, this means the “pause button” on RIFs is set to be released as early as January 30.
📉 The Policy Shift: From “Ban” to “Notify”
The temporary funding measure (CR) that ended the government shutdown included a strict moratorium: No funds could be used to notice or implement a RIF. That protection expires on January 30, 2026.
The new spending bill replaces that hard stop with a softer “speed bump.”
- The New Rule: Agencies will be required to provide 30 days’ advance notice to Congress before reprogramming funds or taking actions that result in a significant reduction in personnel.
- The Implication: Once that 30-day notice is filed, the agency is legally free to proceed with the RIF. The “check and balance” has shifted from a prohibition to a procedural step.
Sound Data: The “Census” of Cuts The bill also includes a mandate for the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to publish a comprehensive “census” of the federal workforce.
- The Data Call: OPM must release data within 60 days showing the full number of civilian employees as of Jan 19, 2025, vs. Sept 30, 2025.
- The Trend: Preliminary OPM data already indicates a net reduction of approximately 220,000 positions over the last year. The new bill effectively asks OPM to “show its work” on these cuts, auditing the downsizing rather than stopping it.
- The Threshold: The notification requirement typically triggers for reductions of 5% or more within a program or office. This leaves “micro-RIFs” (cuts of fewer than 5% of staff) potentially under the radar, requiring no Congressional notice at all.
⚠️ Why “Data” Doesn’t Save Jobs
For the individual employee, a report to Congress is cold comfort. The requirement for agencies to report on attrition, deferred resignations, and RIFs suggests that Congress expects these numbers to rise and simply wants to track the trajectory.
The “Zombie” RIFs Return: As we noted previously, agencies that had paused RIF preparations in November haven’t cancelled them—they have simply been waiting for the CR to expire. With the new bill offering a clear path forward (notify, then cut), we expect stalled RIF actions at agencies like the VA and DoD to resume in February 2026.
🛡️ Your “Retention Standing” is Your New Safety Net
When the legislative ban disappears, your job security depends entirely on your Retention Standing. RIFs are not random; they are mathematical.
Internal Benefit Advisors helps you ensure that the data the agency uses to rank you is accurate before the 30-day notice is filed.
How We Help You Prepare for the “Open Season” on RIFs:
- Retention Register Audit: We help you verify your Service Computation Date (SCD-RIF). A single missing year of service credit or an unrecorded performance appraisal can drop you from “Safe” to “Released.”
- “Bump and Retreat” Rights: If your position is abolished, do you have the right to take a lower-graded position? We analyze your assignment rights to see if you can displace a junior employee to save your career.
- Severance & VERA Analysis: If the worst happens, we calculate your severance pay entitlement and analyze whether a Voluntary Early Retirement Authority (VERA) offer is better than risking a RIF.
The moratorium bought you time. Now you need to use it.
Contact Internal Benefit Advisors today for a RIF preparedness and retention standing review.
References
- FEDweek. “Spending Bill Seeks Data on Federal Workforce Cuts but Wouldn’t Prevent More.” January 13, 2026.
- U.S. House of Representatives. Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (Commerce, Justice, Science Division).
- Office of Personnel Management (OPM). FedScope Employment Trends Data.
- Internal Benefit Advisors. Retrieved from https://internalbenefitadvisors.com
