# Plain Language Summary: Federal Employee Access to Information Act

This bill protects federal employees from being punished by their employers for requesting government records or taking action to get those records. Specifically, it shields workers who use two well-known laws to ask for information: the Freedom of Information Act (which lets anyone request federal records) and the Privacy Act (which lets people ask for information the government has about them). If a federal employee files one of these requests or takes steps to pursue it—like going through an appeal process or getting help from a lawyer—their boss cannot retaliate against them by firing them, demoting them, cutting their pay, or taking other negative employment actions.

The practical impact is straightforward: right now, a federal employee might hesitate to request records they're legally entitled to see because they worry their supervisor could punish them for it. This bill removes that fear by making retaliation illegal. For example, if a worker wants to see what information the government has collected about them, or if they want to request documents related to their job, they can do so without worrying about losing their job or facing other workplace consequences. The bill also protects employees who pursue disputes or seek help from agencies that handle these requests, like the Office of Government Information Services.

The changes are technical updates to federal employment law that add this new protection to the existing list of reasons why federal employees cannot be retaliated against. It essentially treats requests for government records the same way the law already treats other protected activities, like reporting safety violations or whistleblowing. This gives federal workers the same legal shield that already protects them when they speak up about wrongdoing.

Federal Employee Access to Information Act

Maloney, Carolyn B.

Federal Employee Access to Information Act This bill prohibits personnel retaliation against federal employees and applicants for employment who file requests under the Freedom of Information Act or the Privacy Act or who seek related administrative or judicial actions.