April 30, 2025
Mr. Beyer (for himself, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, Ms. Tlaib, Mr. Cohen, Ms. Elfreth, Ms. Sewell, Ms. Norton, Mr. David Scott of Georgia, and Ms. Pingree) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
To amend title 5, United States Code, to reduce the duration of probationary periods under an initial appointments for Federal employees, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Probationary Reduction for Employee Protections Act
or the PREP Act
.
Sec. 2. Probationary period reduction
(a) Competitive service
Section 3321 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
(d)
A probationary period under subsection (a) may not exceed—
(1)
6 months for an initial appointment of an individual who, immediately prior to such appointment, held a position in the civil service in the executive branch; or
(2)
12 months for an initial appointment of an individual other than an individual described in paragraph (1).
(b) Excepted service
(1) In general
Subchapter I of chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
3330g. Excepted service probationary period
Except as otherwise specifically provided by statute, the probationary or trial period before an initial appointment of an individual to a position in the excepted service becomes final may not exceed—
(1)
6 months for an initial appointment of an individual who, immediately prior to such appointment, held a position in the civil service in the executive branch; or
(2)
12 months for an initial appointment of an individual other than an individual described in paragraph (1).
(2) Clerical amendment
The table of sections for chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating the section 3330f the following new item:
(c) Senior Executive Service
Section 3393(d) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking has served
and all that follows and inserting the following:
has served—
(1)
6 months, if such individual held a position in the civil service in the executive branch immediately prior to such appointment; or
(2)
12 months in all other cases.
(d) Internal Revenue Service
Section 9510 of title 5, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
by striking subsection (d); and
(2)
by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (d).