# Plain Language Summary: No Pensions for Lying Bureaucrats Act

This bill would strip federal employees of their retirement pensions if they're convicted of lying under oath to Congress. Specifically, it targets federal workers who make false statements while testifying before a congressional committee about matters related to their job. The punishment would take effect immediately after conviction and would apply to any federal employee—whether they work for a regular government agency, the Postal Service, or the Veterans Administration.

The key requirement is that the false statements must meet three conditions: they happen after this law takes effect, they relate directly to the person's official job duties, and they occur while the employee is giving testimony before Congress. So a federal official who lies about their agency's budget numbers or their own actions in a congressional hearing could lose all their retirement benefits. This is a significant financial penalty since federal pensions can represent decades of accumulated benefits.

The bill also addresses a loophole where someone might try to avoid prosecution by leaving the country. It would prevent federal employees from keeping their pensions if they flee the United States to escape prosecution for making false statements to Congress. This ensures that people can't dodge the consequences by simply disappearing abroad.

In practical terms, this creates a strong incentive for federal employees to tell the truth when Congress calls them to testify. It treats lying to Congress as serious enough to warrant losing retirement benefits that employees have earned throughout their careers—a consequence that goes beyond typical criminal penalties like fines or jail time.

No Pensions for Lying Bureaucrats Act

Carl, Jerry L.

No Pensions for Lying Bureaucrats Act This bill bars federal employees who are convicted of making false statements while testifying before a congressional committee from receiving certain federal retirement benefits.