H.R. 4791 — Keep USGS Strong Act

This section states congressional findings on the role and contributions of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) in Great Lakes research (i.e., monitoring water quality, invasive species, and ecosystem health), nationwide seismic monitoring, surface and groundwater assessment, topographic and geospatial mapping, natural hazards research (e.g., volcanoes, landslides, floods), ecosystem and wildlife monitoring, mineral and energy resource assessment, and providing open scientific data to support public safety, resource management, and decision-making.

This section exempts the United States Geological Survey (USGS) from (1) the Presidential Memorandum titled “Hiring Freeze” issued on January 20, 2025, or any extension thereof; (2) any reduction in force or other significant reduction in USGS employees if Congress has appropriated funds for their salaries and expenses; and (3) cancellation of any USGS real property lease without approval of the USGS Director.