Federal Workforce Civics Competency and Accountability Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7102
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-01-15: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- Last Updated
- 2026-02-11T14:45:33Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Federal Workforce Civics Competency and Accountability Act (H.R. 7102) aims to ensure that federal civilian career employees demonstrate basic knowledge of U.S. civics and history by requiring them to pass a citizenship test, similar to the one used for naturalizing immigrants, as a condition of employment. This is intended to promote accountability and competency in the federal workforce.
Key Provisions
- Eligibility for New Hires: Individuals must pass the citizenship test to be appointed to positions in the competitive service (a standard hiring process for most federal jobs) or as career appointees (long-term senior executive roles).
- Requirements for Current Employees: Within one year of the law's enactment, all existing career employees must take the test. Thereafter, they must take it annually.
- Testing Details:
- Annual test: Consists of 20 randomly selected questions; passing requires answering at least 15 correctly (75%).
- If the annual test is failed, the employee must retake the full test (all questions from the standard citizenship test); passing requires at least 90% correct answers.
- Failure on the full retake can lead to disciplinary actions, including termination.
- Administration:
- The Office of Personnel Management (OPM), in consultation with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), will administer the test, develop a website for records, provide free study materials and online training, and submit annual reports to Congress on compliance, results, and disciplines.
- Definitions:
- "Career employee" includes those in competitive service positions or career appointees but excludes roles that are exempt due to their confidential or policy-making nature (e.g., certain political or advisory positions).
- The "citizenship test" refers to the civics portion of the naturalization exam under the Immigration and Nationality Act, which covers U.S. history, government, and principles.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill adds a new section (3330g) to Subchapter I of Chapter 33 in Title 5 of the U.S. Code, which governs federal employment practices. Previously, there was no mandatory civics testing requirement for federal civilian career employees beyond basic eligibility criteria like citizenship or background checks. This introduces ongoing testing as a condition of employment, with potential for removal based on failure, marking a shift toward regular competency assessments tied to civic knowledge.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Agencies may face administrative burdens from testing, tracking compliance, and handling potential staff turnover if employees fail and are disciplined. OPM will incur costs for developing systems, materials, and reporting.
- On Citizens and Employees: Federal career employees (estimated at over 2 million) will need to study and test regularly, potentially affecting job security and morale. It could encourage broader civic education among applicants but might deter some from federal service.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it reinforces U.S. emphasis on civic knowledge for government roles, which could indirectly influence perceptions of American governance abroad.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Career Employees: Directly impacted through mandatory testing and risk of discipline.
- OPM and USCIS: Responsible for implementation, administration, and resource provision.
- Federal Agencies: Must ensure employee compliance and manage any resulting workforce changes.
- Congress: Receives annual reports and oversees enforcement.
- Applicants for Federal Jobs: Face an additional barrier to entry in competitive roles.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The requirement applies only to career (non-political) positions, potentially avoiding challenges related to political appointees. However, it could invite lawsuits over due process (e.g., fairness of testing and discipline) or equal protection if perceived as disproportionately affecting certain groups, though the test is standardized and study materials are provided.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority under Article I to regulate federal employment but might raise First Amendment concerns if viewed as compelled speech or ideological testing; the focus on factual civics knowledge likely mitigates this.
- Political: Emphasizes themes of national identity and government accountability, potentially appealing to those prioritizing patriotism in public service, but it could spark debates on bureaucracy, employee rights, and the practicality of annual testing for long-serving staff.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Hamadeh, Abraham J. [R-AZ-8]
Recent Actions
- 2026-01-15: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- 2026-01-15: Introduced in House
- 2026-01-15: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Federal Workforce Civics Competency and Accountability Act — issued 2026-01-15 — PDF (5 pages)