The Administrative Law Judges Competitive Service Restoration Act would restore administrative law judges (ALJs) to the federal government's competitive service, meaning their positions would be subject to standard civil service hiring and protection rules rather than exemptions that allow easier hiring and firing. The bill requires that ALJs be selected through examinations administered by the Office of Personnel Management, have at least seven years of legal experience, and possess a law license, while also protecting their independence in carrying out their judicial duties. Current ALJs employed before the bill's enactment would be converted to competitive service positions within 30 days, except for those hired during a specific period between July 2018 and the bill's passage. The legislation also clarifies that ALJs would not be subject to certain federal employee disciplinary procedures applicable to other civil service employees, preserving their quasi-judicial role while providing greater job protection and procedural safeguards. The bill does not specify any direct federal funding requirements, as it primarily restructures the employment classification and hiring procedures for existing positions.
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