Congresswoman Luz Rivas Co-Sponsors Slew of Bills to Halt Trump, Musk, and DOGE’s Reckless Firings of Federal Science Workforce

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Luz Rivas (CA-29) – the only Latina in Congress with a background in STEM, co-chair of the STEM Education Caucus, and member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology – co-sponsored five bills that would institute a moratorium on reductions in force (RIF) at the Department of Energy (DOE), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

“As a result of their haphazard, short-sighted, and illegal mass firings of the federal science workforce, Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and DOGE put the public health of Americans, the safety of our communities, and our innovation and global competitiveness at risk,” said Congresswoman Rivas. “The five bills I co-sponsored will put a halt to the chaotic mass firings happening at key science agencies that have upended the lives of thousands of dedicated public servants and have jeopardized the United States’ standing as a leader in innovation on the global stage. I will stand with my Science, Space, and Technology Committee colleagues in fighting back against DOGE and protecting the federal science workforce – I hope my Republican colleagues will be able to do the same.”

Background

Since taking office in January, the Trump Administration, Elon Musk, and DOGE began implementing RIFs at federal agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Department of Education, with more to follow. Final plans for RIFs for all federal agencies, including DOE, NASA, NIST, NSF, and NOAA, are expected to be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget by April 14.

House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (CA-18) introduced five bills to institute a moratorium on the Trump Administration’s RIFs after the plans are submitted. Subcommittee on Research and Technology Ranking Member Haley Stevens (MI-11), Subcommittee on Energy Ranking Member Deborah Ross (NC-2), Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics Ranking Member Valerie Foushee (NC-4), and Subcommittee on Environment Ranking Member Gabe Amo (RI-1) each joined as co-leaders on the RIF Moratorium bill for their Subcommittee’s respective Agency.

Congresswoman Rivas co-sponsored each of these bills.

The text of each bill can be found here.

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