S-2648 : Still Just a Bill

The Protecting Public Naval Shipyards Act of 2025 (S. 2648) aims to prevent workforce reductions at public shipyards.

Key provisions of the bill include:

• Exempting the workforce at public shipyards from hiring freezes or workforce reductions due to spending cuts, fund reprogramming, or employee probationary status.
• Defining the "workforce at public shipyards" to include:
  • Welders
  • Pipefitters
  • Shipfitters
  • Radiological technicians and engineers
  • Engineers and engineer technicians
  • Apprentices
  • Positions supporting a workforce development pipeline
  • Positions supporting nuclear maintenance and refueling
  • Mechanics
  • Painters and blasters
  • Positions supporting maintenance and operations of infrastructure
  • Positions supporting implementation of the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program
• Clarifying that the bill does not restrict the Secretary of Defense's authority to manage the workforce in cases of misconduct or poor performance.