As part of its broader package of rules for the 115th Congress, the House of Representatives revived the Holman Rule, a provision that allows House members to propose amendments to spending bills that closely manage federal agencies. These “retrenchment” amendments can affect details down to individual federal salaries and the number of staff in an office.

This rule allows Congress not only to eliminate entire programs (although it can do this already) but also to reassign or eliminate federal employees, individually or in groups.