HR-9063-119
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Sponsored by Nancy Mace (R-SC)
What it does
This bill would amend federal law to prohibit the federal government from employing anyone who is not a U.S. citizen or national. It would require applicants to sign an affidavit confirming citizenship status before being hired, and require agencies to verify that status. Four narrow exceptions would remain: temporary translators, emergency field service workers, international broadcasters at the U.S. Agency for Global Media, and nonresident alien wildland firefighters hired under international agreements for up to 120 days. The Office of Personnel Management would be required to issue implementation guidance within 180 days and report to Congress on the number of currently employed noncitizens.
Who benefits
U.S. citizens and nationals competing for federal jobs, who would face a smaller pool of eligible applicants. Federal employee unions whose members are citizens. Advocates of stricter federal workforce nationality requirements. Indirectly, members of Congress who gain a new reporting mechanism and oversight tool over federal hiring practices.
Who is hurt
Noncitizen legal residents — including lawful permanent residents (green card holders) and visa holders — currently employed by the federal government who would need to be identified and potentially separated from service. Future noncitizen applicants who would be categorically barred from federal employment. Agencies that rely on specialized noncitizen talent (e.g., scientific, technical, or linguistic expertise) and would face a narrower hiring pool. The U.S. Postal Service and Postal Regulatory Commission employees who are noncitizens, as they are explicitly covered. Federal contractors are not directly affected, but agencies may face indirect operational disruptions during workforce transitions.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that federal employment — funded by taxpayers and carrying access to sensitive government information and operations — should be reserved for those with the strongest legal and civic ties to the United States. They contend that existing law already restricts most federal positions to citizens, and this bill closes gaps and inconsistencies by codifying a uniform standard with clear verification and reporting requirements. Supporters also argue that the four enumerated exceptions preserve operational flexibility where noncitizen hiring is genuinely necessary, while the affidavit and penalty provisions deter fraud.
Opponents argue
Opponents argue that lawful permanent residents and other noncitizens already undergo background checks and security clearances, making a blanket citizenship bar redundant and potentially harmful to federal workforce quality. They contend the bill could force agencies to lose experienced, highly skilled employees — particularly in scientific, medical, and technical fields — where the federal government competes with the private sector for talent. Opponents also argue the bill's explicit override of Section 274B of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which prohibits employment discrimination based on citizenship status for authorized workers, raises serious civil rights concerns for a large class of legally authorized workers.