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Bureau of Prisons Closures and RIF Notices: What Affected Employees Need to Know

bureau of prisons federal employees mspb reduction in force rif appeal rights Jul 07, 2026

The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) announced this week that it is closing six federal correctional facilities across five states. The agency says many affected employees can transfer to a nearby unit — but staff at Big Spring and La Tuna in Texas are being told something different: this is a reduction in force.

How the Numbers Line Up

The closures land against a backdrop that makes them harder to square:

Last year, BOP received nearly $5 billion under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — roughly $3 billion earmarked for staffing and training, and $2 billion for infrastructure.
The agency is still carrying more than $4 billion in deferred maintenance.
BOP lost more than 1,400 employees last year, many of them, according to the union, to ICE positions offering higher pay.
In September, BOP canceled its contract with AFGE covering more than 30,000 bargaining unit employees — a termination that is still being contested.

Money that was directed at a staffing crisis has, for roughly 500 employees at the affected facilities, arrived alongside closures and a RIF.

What a RIF Means for Your Rights

A reduction in force is governed by Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 351. If you are separated or downgraded through a RIF, you generally have the right to appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board, and that appeal window is generally 30 days.

On appeal, the Board examines whether the agency actually followed the RIF rules that are supposed to protect employees — including your tenure group, service computation date, veterans' preference, and retention standing. These determinations are fact-specific, and outcomes depend on the details of each employee's record.

What to Do if You Receive a RIF Notice

If you work at one of the affected facilities and receive a RIF notice, the dates on that notice control your appeal window:

Save the notice and the envelope it came in.
Write down the date you received it.
Note your effective separation date.
Identify your 30-day appeal window immediately.

The Takeaway

A RIF notice is not the end of the process — it's the start of a clock. Employees at Big Spring, La Tuna, and the other affected facilities have appeal rights under Title 5, and those rights depend on how carefully the agency followed its own procedures.

If you've received a RIF notice from BOP or another federal agency, Southworth PC offers free consultations to federal employees nationwide.

Legal Disclaimer: This content is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Federal employment situations are fact-specific and time-sensitive. Please consult a qualified federal employment attorney about your specific situation.

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