Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman James R. Walkinshaw (VA-11), a member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, today introduced the Federal Employee Records Relief Act, legislation to help former federal employees obtain missing personnel records, fix administrative errors and navigate their earned benefits. Missing or inaccurate records can delay retirement processing, complicate health coverage and interfere with future employment.

“Federal employees have suffered enough under the Trump administration’s mass firings and attacks on our civil service. They should not have to chase down missing paperwork to document their service and access the benefits they earned,” said Congressman Walkinshaw. “My bill would require the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and federal agencies to help former employees get their records, fix errors and get clear answers about their benefits. These public servants deserve better.”

The bill would require OPM, working with former employing agencies, to provide personnel records, correct administrative errors and offer written benefits information and coordination assistance, including information about health coverage continuation options.

Federal employees who separated for any reason on or after January 20, 2025, including retirees, would have four years after enactment to submit requests.

“Too often, federal employees leave government service only to find themselves trapped in bureaucratic limbo, waiting months for agencies and OPM to correct records or process paperwork they need to collect benefits, secure loans, or move on to their next job. This commonsense legislation creates a clear, centralized, and time-limited process to fix those problems so former federal employees are not forced to keep paying the price for administrative failures that are beyond their control,” said the National Federation of Federal Employees.

“Mass firings and pressure campaigns to force out federal employees have thrown thousands of dedicated civil servants into chaos. Now many are left hanging, trapped by botched personnel records and processing delays that stand between them and their next job, their retirement, and the benefits they earned. The Federal Employee Records Relief Act will give these workers a clear path to correct their records and move forward with their lives. NTEU applauds Rep. Walkinshaw for his work on this bill and for standing up for federal employees and their families,” said Doreen Greenwald, National President, National Treasury Employees Union.

Original cosponsors include Reps. Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D.C.), Don Beyer (VA-08), Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), Stephen F. Lynch (MA-08), Glenn Ivey (MD-04) and Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10).

Read the bill text here.

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