Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-Charleston) has introduced two bills aimed at preventing individuals with violent crime convictions from working in federal or District of Columbia government positions.
The No Violent Criminals in the Federal Workforce Act would prohibit anyone convicted of a violent crime from holding a position in the federal civil service or working on federal contracts. The No Convicts Running the Capital Act applies similar restrictions to employment and contracting within the D.C. government.
“This is common sense. If you’ve been convicted of a violent crime, you have no business working for the government or cashing taxpayer checks,” said Congresswoman Mace. “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.”
According to Rep. Mace, these measures are intended to close loopholes that could allow individuals with violent criminal backgrounds to be employed by government agencies or work on government contracts.
Key provisions of the No Violent Criminals in the Federal Workforce Act include barring those with final convictions for crimes of violence from federal civil service jobs, prohibiting federal contracts with entities controlled by or employing such individuals, requiring removal of current employees with relevant convictions, and providing waiver authority when contract termination would cause undue burden to the government.
The No Convicts Running the Capital Act prohibits D.C. government hiring or contracting with individuals finally convicted for crimes of violence or dangerous crimes, requires termination of affected employees and contracts within 90 days, and bars contracts with entities controlled by or employing such individuals.
Both bills define “finally convicted” as cases where all appeals have been exhausted or where time to appeal has expired.
Nancy Mace currently represents South Carolina’s 1st district in Congress after replacing Joe Cunningham in 2021. She previously served in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 2018 to 2020 and was born in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. She lives in Charleston and graduated from The Citadel in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science degree.
