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119th Congress
Independent · Nonpartisan · Reader-supported
SENATES. 5163· 119th Congress

Block bonuses for underperforming federal workers

No Bonuses for Bad Service Act

Sponsor
Josh Hawley (R-MO)
Introduced
Jul 29, 2026
Last Action
Aug 6, 2026
Passage
35%
Introduced
Jul 29, 2026
Committee
Aug 6, 2026
3
Floor Vote
4
Both Chambers
5
Enacted
01 — The Text

What.

  • Prevents federal employees from receiving performance bonuses when their agency fails to meet service standards.
  • Ties bonus eligibility to agency-wide performance metrics, not just individual job performance.
  • Detailed mechanics unknown—full text not yet publicly available.
02 — The Stakes

So what?

  • Federal workers: bonuses now tied to broader agency accountability, potentially reducing individual payouts.
  • Taxpayers: aims to link government spending on employee bonuses to actual service delivery results.
  • Federal agencies: creates incentive to improve organizational performance to preserve bonus budgets.
03 — The Path

Now what?

  • Bill passed committee with amendments on August 6, 2026. Heads to full Senate floor for debate and vote next.
  • Watch for negotiations over which agencies and metrics count, and how 'bad service' gets defined.
  • Contact your senator's office if you want to weigh in on linking federal worker pay to agency performance.
Legislative History

Actions.

  • Aug 6, 2026Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
  • Jul 29, 2026Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
  • Jul 29, 2026Introduced in Senate