Press Releases

Today, U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) issued the statement below following news that the Department of Justice and Bureau of Prisons (BOP) canceled bargaining agreement contracts with correctional workers nationwide, including at the Federal Correctional Complex (FCC), Lompoc. The cancellation will impact about 35,000 employees nationally. 

“Stripping correctional officers of their collective bargaining rights will only undermine morale, recruitment, and retention at a time when staff stability and safety are critical,” said Rep. Carbajal. “I stand firmly with the correctional workers at FCC Lompoc and will push for the restoration of their bargaining rights.”

Carbajal has long been a leader in addressing staffing shortages at local law enforcement facilities. 

Earlier this year, Carbajal, along with Representative Don Bacon (R-NE-02), introduced the Filling Public Safety Vacancies Act. The bill aims to help local police departments mitigate staffing shortages. The legislation also provides an emergency boost to the federal grant program that provides funding to departments for recruitment and hiring.

In April 2025, Carbajal co-sponsored the bipartisan Prison Staffing Reform Act, which directs BOP to conduct a review of understaffing, devise a 3-year plan to fill vacancies, and implement the plan, as well as submit yearly progress reports to Congress.