Rep. Mace introduces bills to bar felons from working federal & DC government jobs
Rep. Nancy Mace considers gubernatorial run during Myrtle Beach visit in Grande Dunes (Andrew James/WPDE)
(WCIV) — U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace introduced two bills Monday that would prohibit people convicted of violent crimes from working for the federal and the District of Columbia governments.
The No Violent Criminals in the Federal Workforce Act would bar people convicted of violent crimes from holding federal civil service jobs or working on federal contracts. Mace’s No Convicts Running the Capital Act would apply the same restrictions to employment and contracts with the District of Columbia government.
“This is common sense,” Mace said. “If you’ve been convicted of a violent crime, you have no business working for the government or cashing taxpayer checks. Hard-working Americans shouldn’t have their tax dollars funding the salaries of violent criminals, and the American people should not have to wonder if violent felons are put in positions of public trust.”
We introduced two critical pieces of legislation to protect taxpayers and restore accountability in government employment:
1. The No Violent Criminals in the Federal Workforce Act: prohibits individuals with final convictions for violent crimes from holding federal civil service… pic.twitter.com/iIA4FWTnAD
— Rep. Nancy Mace (@RepNancyMace) January 19, 2026
The bills would only bar individuals who have exhausted their final appeals or if the time to appeal has expired.
Mace believes both bills would close a “dangerous loophole” and ensure offenders are “kept off government payrolls,” according to a statement sent from her office.
Regarding the No Violent Criminals in the Federal Workforce Act, individuals would be stopped from obtaining civil service positions and federal contracts. Additionally, the bill writes in a waiver authority for “unique circumstances” where contract termination would “Impose undue burden” on the government.
Meanwhile, the No Convict Running the Capital Act would prohibit the DC government from hiring, granting contracts to, and forcing the terminations of anyone with a final conviction for crimes of violence. No waiver was written into the proposed legislation.
Current law states that people with criminal records are “eligible to apply” to most federal jobs. However, if an individual is convicted of treason, they face a lifelong ban on federal employment, according to USAJobs.gov.
People convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence crimes under Federal or State law are “prohibited from employment in any position requiring the individual to ship, transport, possess, or receive firearms or ammunition.”
