The Probationary Reduction for Employee Protections Act (PREP Act) shortens the probationary periods that newly hired federal employees must complete before their positions become permanent. Currently, federal employees typically serve one-year probationary periods; this bill reduces that to six months for employees who were already in the federal civil service before their new appointment, and keeps it at 12 months for those entering federal service for the first time. The changes apply across all federal employment categories—competitive service positions, excepted service positions, and Senior Executive Service roles—and also streamline rules for Internal Revenue Service employees. The bill affects millions of federal workers and aims to provide job security more quickly for new hires, particularly those already familiar with federal employment. There is no specific funding or implementation timeline mentioned in the legislation.
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