H.R. 2880 — To provide employment protections for, and reinstatement of, certain probationary Federal career employees, and for other purposes.

This section deems any federal employee promoted to a competitive service position, career excepted service position, or career Senior Executive Service (SES) appointee position and serving a subsequent probationary or trial period as covered by, and subject to, adverse action procedures under subchapter II (competitive service employees) or subchapter V (SES) of 5 U.S.C. chapter 75; for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) positions, such employees are deemed covered by 38 U.S.C. §714 (i.e., VA procedures authorizing expedited removal, demotion, or suspension within 15 business days). The section further permits, at the individual's election, reinstatement to the same or equivalent position with back pay under 5 U.S.C. §5596 for any such employee removed between January 20, 2025, and enactment. Neither provision applies to promotions to or removals from political positions (i.e., Executive Schedule positions, noncareer SES appointees, or Schedule C positions).