Federal workforce ban for violent-crime convictions takes effect

What it does

This bill bars individuals convicted of violent crimes from federal employment and from working on federal contracts. It applies to anyone with a final conviction for a crime of violence under federal law, and requires federal agencies to include contract clauses enforcing the ban. The OMB Director may waive the prohibition only if removing the person would impose unique or undue burden on the government.

Why we flagged it

The bill's core function is to establish a categorical employment and contracting bar based on criminal conviction status. It is a straightforward eligibility restriction, not a deregulation, subsidy, or commemorative act.

What the text implies

• The definition of 'crime of violence' is tied to 18 U.S.C. § 16 but explicitly excludes offenses in subsection (b) of that section—the bill does not restate what those exclusions are, so the scope depends entirely on the cited statute. Readers cannot determine the precise reach without consulting external law.
• The waiver mechanism grants OMB Director discretion to override the ban if removal would impose 'unique or undue burden'—this is a subjective standard that could permit case-by-case exceptions, potentially undermining the categorical bar.
• The bill applies retroactively to contracts entered into before enactment, which may disrupt existing contractor relationships and create compliance costs for agencies managing mid-contract personnel changes.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

The bill restricts employment and contracting access for individuals convicted of violent crimes, which protects public trust in federal workforce integrity and reduces risk of harm from violent offenders in positions of authority or access. The restriction is narrow (final convictions only, with defined crime-of-violence standard) and includes a waiver mechanism for genuine operational necessity.

Named in the bill

Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), 18 U.S.C. § 16 (crime of violence definition), 5 U.S.C. Chapter 73 (federal employment), Federal contractors

Where it stands

1 cosponsor: 1 Republicans.

• Jan 14, 2026 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• Jan 14, 2026 — Referred to House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform · Congress.gov: “Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.