House Panel Votes to Double Probationary Time for Federal Hires

A Republican-led congressional committee advanced legislation that would give government officials more room to fire new federal employees.

The House Oversight Committee approved a bill (H.R. 5750) Tuesday by a 24 to 19 vote that would double the probationary period for new hires from one to two years, one of several federal workforce measures reported to the full House for consideration of a floor vote.

Republican supporters of the bill said the extension would protect taxpayer dollars, giving management a longer runway to determine whether federal workers are competent. It was met with opposition from Democrats on the ...