REDUCE Act

Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jan 5, 2017

Rebalance for an Effective Defense Uniformed and Civilian Employees Act or the REDUCE Act

This bill limits full-time positions in the Department of Defense (DOD), in each of FY2024-FY2028, subject to specified adjustments to be made by the DOD Secretary, to a number not greater than 85% of the number of such positions at DOD as of September 30, 2018. Not more than 1,000 of such positions may be career appointees within the Senior Executive Service. DOD is authorized to offer voluntary separation incentive and voluntary early retirement payments to achieve the reductions but must use involuntary measures, beginning on October 1, 2018, to achieve required reductions in personnel levels if voluntary measures are inadequate.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Calvert, Ken [R-CA-42] · R–CA

Committees

Armed Services Committee

8 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Feb 21, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness.
Jan 5, 2017
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
Jan 5, 2017
Introduced in House
Jan 5, 2017
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Jan 5, 2017 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Aug 11, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.295 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss H.R.295, 115th Congress: REDUCE Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/295

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2017-01-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr295/BILLS-115hr295ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-11T16:31:24Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.295 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.295 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Discuss H.R.295, 115th Congress: REDUCE Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/295

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2017-01-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr295/BILLS-115hr295ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-11T16:31:24Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.295 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.295 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.295, 115th Congress: REDUCE Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/295

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2017-01-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr295/BILLS-115hr295ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-11T16:31:24Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.295 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.295 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.295, 115th Congress: REDUCE Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/295

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2017-01-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr295/BILLS-115hr295ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-11T16:31:24Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.295 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.