Federal Managers Association

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• FMA Endorses Bipartisan Shipyard Protection Legislation - August 7, 2025

• Federal employees at the nation’s four public shipyards would be exempt from any hiring freeze or workforce reductions related to spending cuts, reprogramming of funds, or the probationary status of employees under new legislation introduced on August 1 by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH). The Protecting Public Naval Shipyards (PNSY) Act (S. 2648), cosponsored by Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Angus King (I-ME), would ensure that the maintenance and overhaul of America’s nuclear-powered submarine fleet continues uninterrupted. The bill, endorsed by FMA, was referred to the Senate Armed Services Committee.

  The Protecting PNSY Act would require the Department of Defense to exempt positions at the four public shipyards – Portsmouth, Norfolk, Puget Sound, and Pearl Harbor – from workforce reductions that are critical to maintenance and that support the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program (SIOP).

  You can view the full bill text here.

  The bill specifically names the following public shipyard roles:

  1. Welders
  2. Pipefitters
  3. Shipfitters
  4. Radiological technicians and engineers
  5. Engineers and engineer technicians
  6. Apprentices
  7. Positions supporting a workforce development pipeline
  8. Positions supporting nuclear maintenance and refueling
  9. Mechanics
  10. Painters and blasters
  11. Positions supporting maintenance and operations of infrastructure
  12. Positions supporting implementation of the SIOP

  In addition, the bipartisan bill would remove hiring limits for these positions.

  “Our shipyard workforce represents an essential component of our national defense and preparedness – they should have never been subjected to this administration’s ill-considered hiring freezes,” said Senator Shaheen in a statement upon introduction. “The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard workforce is supposed to be exempt from the hiring freeze, but there continues to be issues with implementation. Our bipartisan bill enshrines that exemption in federal law and ensures that no public shipyard is subjected to such chaos and uncertainty in the future, allowing them to focus instead on the vital role they play in our national security.” Senators Collins, King, and Hassan included similar statements in the press release.

  FMA swiftly endorsed the bill, noting the vital role these employees perform on a daily basis to ensure our national security. To track the progress of S. 2648, click here.

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