# The FORCE Act: What It Does

The FORCE Act creates a new system called the National Defense Executive Reserve that would allow the federal government to quickly bring in private sector workers during national emergencies. Think of it as a standby team of civilian experts from businesses and industries who volunteer in advance to temporarily work for the government if the President declares a national defense emergency and activates them.

Here's how it would work in practice: Private citizens with specialized skills—say, someone who runs a major tech company or manages a critical supply chain—could volunteer to join this reserve. They'd go through training and exercises during peacetime so they're ready if needed. Then, if the President declares a national defense emergency (like a major cyberattack on power grids or other critical infrastructure), the President could activate these volunteers to temporarily fill government positions in the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Commerce, or other agencies. These volunteers would get paid for their service and would have job protection, meaning their private employers would have to let them return to their old jobs when the emergency ends.

The bill also makes it easier for the government to create "voluntary agreements" with private companies during emergencies. These are basically formal partnerships where businesses agree to work together on national defense priorities—for example, coordinating how to restore critical infrastructure after a cyberattack. The bill removes some of the Federal Trade Commission's oversight of these agreements, giving the President and Commerce Department more flexibility to make these deals quickly without as much antitrust review.

The practical effect is that the government gains a faster, more flexible way to tap private sector expertise during crises without having to hire permanent federal employees. However, it also means private citizens could find themselves called to government service during emergencies, and it gives the executive branch more power to coordinate with businesses with less regulatory scrutiny than before.