S. 2977 — FAST Justice Act

This section amends the appeals process under 5 U.S.C. 7701 by establishing a right for federal employees or applicants (other than in appeals subject to section 7702, i.e., whistleblower and certain discrimination cases) to file a civil action in U.S. district court if the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) fails to take a judicially reviewable action within 120 days of appeal filing. Civil actions may be filed in the district where the personnel action occurred, where the employee would have worked, or the respondent's principal office (if no personal jurisdiction elsewhere); district courts apply the section 7703(c) standard to MSPB orders and the MSPB-equivalent standard otherwise, with appeals to the relevant circuit court under 28 U.S.C. 1291; and MSPB must stay the appeal upon civil action filing, resuming if dismissed for lack of jurisdiction. (Thus, the provision enables district court intervention to address MSPB processing delays in standard adverse action appeals, such as removals or suspensions.) The amendments do not limit existing judicial review of MSPB decisions under section 7703.