In a letter to Congress on Thursday, President Trump said he is exercising his authority to implement a 2019 pay freeze for civilian federal employees.
“Specifically, I have determined that for 2019, both across-the-board pay increases and locality pay increases will be set at zero. These alternative pay plan decisions will not materially affect our ability to attract and retain a well-qualified Federal workforce,” the president wrote.
The deadline for the administration to formalize its pay plan for 2019 is August 31. Trump’s 2019 budget proposal in March included asking Congress to approve a 2019 federal pay freeze for all civilian employees.
While the Senate approved a 1.9 percent pay raise for civilian employees earlier this month, the House has remained silent regarding it. After negotiation between both legislative chambers next month, if the House agrees to the Senate’s proposed pay raise, this would override the president’s plan for a pay freeze. It is unclear in that case if the White House would issue a veto.
Historically the final federal pay tables are not released by the Office of Personnel Management until late December.
Below is the full text of the President’s August 30 letter to Congress regarding the 2019 federal employee pay freeze.
Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)
I am transmitting an alternative plan for pay adjustments for civilian Federal employees covered by the General Schedule and certain other pay systems in January 2019.
Title 5, United States Code, authorizes me to implement alternative plans for pay adjustments for civilian Federal employees covered by the General Schedule and certain other pay systems if, because of “national emergency or serious economic conditions affecting the general welfare,” I view the increases that would otherwise take effect as inappropriate.
Under current law, locality pay increases averaging 25.70 percent, costing $25 billion, would go into effect in January 2019, in addition to a 2.1 percent across-the-board increase for the base General Schedule. We must maintain efforts to put our Nation on a fiscally sustainable course, and Federal agency budgets cannot sustain such increases. Accordingly, I have determined that it is appropriate to exercise my authority to set alternative across-the-board and locality pay adjustments for 2019 pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 5303(b) and 5304a.
Specifically, I have determined that for 2019, both across?the?board pay increases and locality pay increases will be set at zero. These alternative pay plan decisions will not materially affect our ability to attract and retain a well?qualified Federal workforce.
As noted in my Budget for Fiscal Year 2019, the cost of employing the Federal workforce is significant. In light of our Nation’s fiscal situation, Federal employee pay must be performance-based, and aligned strategically toward recruiting, retaining, and rewarding high-performing Federal employees and those with critical skill sets. Across-the-board pay increases and locality pay increases, in particular, have long-term fixed costs, yet fail to address existing pay disparities or target mission critical recruitment and retention goals.
The adjustments described above shall take effect on the first day of the first applicable pay period beginning on or after January 1, 2019.
Sincerely,
DONALD J. TRUMP