Public Shipyard Workforce Protection Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6793
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-17: Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, 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.
- Last Updated
- 2026-01-22T16:21:07Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Public Shipyard Workforce Protection Act of 2025 aims to safeguard employment stability at U.S. public shipyards by restricting the Department of Defense (DoD) from using its funds to implement certain workforce reductions or delays without justification. This ensures consistent staffing levels to support naval shipbuilding and maintenance, which are critical for national defense.
Key Provisions
- Funding Prohibition: For fiscal year 2026, no DoD funds (whether appropriated or otherwise available) may be used to:
- Implement a hiring freeze (stopping all new hires) at a public shipyard.
- Conduct a reduction in force (laying off employees due to budget or organizational changes) at a public shipyard.
- Delay, without a valid reason, the hiring to fill an empty federal civilian employee position at a public shipyard.
- The bill applies specifically to public shipyards, which are government-owned facilities responsible for building and repairing naval vessels.
- Introduced on December 17, 2025, and referred to the House Committees on Armed Services and Oversight and Government Reform.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This legislation introduces a targeted restriction on DoD's use of funds, which was not previously specified in law for public shipyards. It builds on general congressional authority to control appropriations but adds explicit protections against uncaused workforce disruptions, potentially overriding broader executive branch discretion in personnel management during budget constraints.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The DoD, particularly its shipbuilding programs, must maintain current staffing levels at public shipyards, which could stabilize operations but limit flexibility in responding to budget shortfalls or efficiency drives.
- On Citizens: Federal civilian employees at public shipyards (e.g., welders, engineers, and support staff) gain job security, reducing risks of unemployment in communities dependent on these facilities. This may indirectly benefit local economies near shipyards.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though stable shipyard workforces could enhance U.S. naval readiness, supporting deterrence and alliances in global maritime security.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Department of Defense and Public Shipyards: Directly constrained in workforce decisions, affecting facilities like those in Virginia, Washington, and California.
- Federal Civilian Employees: Protected from arbitrary job losses or hiring delays, benefiting thousands in shipyard roles.
- Congressional Committees: House Armed Services and Oversight and Government Reform, which oversee DoD operations and federal personnel policies.
- Defense Industry and Local Communities: Shipbuilding contractors and regions reliant on shipyard jobs may see sustained economic activity.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces Congress's constitutional power of the purse (Article I, Section 9) by conditioning DoD funding on workforce protections, potentially limiting executive authority over federal hiring without violating civil service laws.
- Constitutional: Aligns with separation of powers, as it uses appropriations to influence agency actions without infringing on core executive functions.
- Political: Highlights bipartisan support for defense workforce stability (sponsored by members from shipyard-heavy districts), amid ongoing debates over military spending and industrial base resilience; could influence future defense authorization bills by setting a precedent for sector-specific employment safeguards.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2]
Cosponsors (6)
Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2], Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3], Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6]
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-17: Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, 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.
- 2025-12-17: Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, 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.
- 2025-12-17: Introduced in House
- 2025-12-17: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Public Shipyard Workforce Protection Act of 2025 — issued 2025-12-17 — PDF (2 pages)