12 weeks of paid leave for parents employed by the federal government made it into the NDAA! This is big news for 2 million+ federal workers and a big win for everyone at Federally Employed Women.

See the NDAA here.

The language says that federal workers with one year of service can substitute new, administrative paid parental leave for unpaid FMLA leave within 12 months of a child’s birth, adoption or foster placement.

Federal employees using paid parental leave must agree to come back to work for at least 12 weeks after leave, though can be waived for serious health issues of the employee or child/for other reasons outside employee’s control. Otherwise, health premiums must be repaid.

FEPLA in NDAA is cause to celebrate — and there’s much more work to do to guarantee paid leave for all in the federal government and in the entire U.S. workforce.

The bill is now on its way to be signed by the President.