Non-Essential Workers Transparency Act
Non-Essential Workers Transparency Act
Plain Language Summary
# Non-Essential Workers Transparency Act Summary **What the bill would do:** This bill would require federal agencies to provide detailed reports to Congress whenever a government shutdown occurs. Within 30 days after a shutdown ends, agencies would have to document how many employees were furloughed (sent home without pay), how many continued working, and the total salary costs for each group. The reports would be made public so Congress and the public can see which workers were deemed "essential" versus "non-essential" during the shutdown. **Who it affects and key provisions:** This bill primarily affects federal agencies and Congress, though it impacts all federal employees indirectly by creating transparency about shutdown decisions. The reports must include total employee counts (including contractors), breakdown of furloughed versus working employees, and salary information.
Reports can include classified information in a separate section if needed for national security reasons. **Current status:** The bill is currently in committee (S. 3005 in the 119th Congress), meaning it has been introduced but not yet voted on by the full Senate. It was sponsored by Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa.
CRS Official Summary
Non-Essential Workers Transparency ActThis bill requires federal agencies to submit reports to Congress and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) regarding employees who were furloughed during a lapse in appropriations (i.e, government shutdown), the total number of employees, and the cost of salaries. Specifically, each federal agency must submit a report to specified congressional committees and OPM within 30 days of the end of a lapse in appropriations. The report must include specified details regardingthe total number of employees (including contract employees) employed by the agency before the lapse began,the total number of employees who were furloughed during the lapse,the total number of employees who were not furloughed during the lapse, and the total annual cost of the salaries for each group of employees. The report must be submitted in an unclassified form, but it may include a classified annex. Each congressional committee that receives a report must publish the report on its website within 30 days. OPM must consolidate all of the reports submitted with respect to a lapse in appropriations and publish the consolidated report on its website.
Latest Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.