A Democratic bill with 20 Democratic cosponsors · See all 20 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Fair Access to Swift and Timely Justice Act" or the "FAST Justice Act," aims to amend title 5 of the United States Code. It seeks to ensure that the Merit Systems Protection Board provides timely rulings on appeals from Federal employees and job applicants. If the Board has not taken action on an appeal within 120 days, the individual is granted the right to file a civil action in a district court. The bill also establishes rules for where these actions can be filed and how they are reviewed. Additionally, it requires the Board to stay the appeal while a civil action is underway.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +5
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?
The bill expands the legal recourse available to federal employees and applicants facing prolonged administrative delays.
- Scored +3
Would union members be better off under this?
The bill strengthens the ability of federal employees to challenge personnel actions through the judicial system if the MSPB is slow to act.
- Scored +3
Does this strengthen the rights of workers to organise?
The bill provides federal employees with a mechanism to seek judicial relief if their personnel appeals are delayed beyond 120 days.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Right to judicial action for delays: An employee or applicant for employment becomes entitled to file a civil action in a district court if the Merit Systems Protection Board fails to take action on an appeal within 120 days (Section 2(a)(1)).
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Flexible filing locations: Individuals can bring civil actions in specific judicial districts where the personnel action occurred, where they would have been employed, or where the respondent's principal office is located (Section 2(a)(2)(A) and (B)).
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Standard of review protection: In a civil action, the court will apply the same standard of review that would have applied to the review of the personnel action by the Merit Systems Protection Board for determinations other than MSPB orders (Section 2(a)(3)(B)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Potential for appealed court decisions: An order or decision from a district court in these civil actions can be appealed to the court of appeals of the United States for the judicial district in which the district court is located (Section 2(a)(4)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — The bill expands the legal recourse available to federal employees and applicants facing prolonged administrative delays. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill introduces accountability for the Merit Systems Protection Board regarding its timeliness in handling appeals.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would union members be better off under this? — The bill strengthens the ability of federal employees to challenge personnel actions through the judicial system if the MSPB is slow to act. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Federal employees, often middle-class workers, gain more efficient avenues to resolve employment disputes.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this strengthen the rights of workers to organise? — The bill provides federal employees with a mechanism to seek judicial relief if their personnel appeals are delayed beyond 120 days.
- 4/23/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/14/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/10/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 10/8/2025
- Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 16 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Sheila Cherfilus-McCormickDemocrat · Florida
Dwight EvansDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Sarah ElfrethDemocrat · Maryland
Lois FrankelDemocrat · Florida
Josh GottheimerDemocrat · New Jersey
Steny HoyerDemocrat · Maryland
Steven HorsfordDemocrat · Nevada
Henry JohnsonDemocrat · Georgia
Timothy KennedyDemocrat · New York
Stephen LynchDemocrat · Massachusetts
Greg LandsmanDemocrat · Ohio
Jennifer McClellanDemocrat · Virginia
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Haley StevensDemocrat · Michigan
Melanie StansburyDemocrat · New Mexico
Suhas SubramanyamDemocrat · Virginia
Dina TitusDemocrat · Nevada
Shri ThanedarDemocrat · Michigan
Eugene VindmanDemocrat · Virginia
Debbie Wasserman SchultzDemocrat · Florida