Most civilian federal employees are headed for a 0% raise in January 2027, but the plan for law enforcement runs in the opposite direction. A Nov. 6 memo from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) says employees already on the law enforcement special rate tables will receive 3.8%, while employees newly brought under those tables will receive about 6.7%, subject to pay caps and agency review.
The memo implements a directive in the president’s Aug. 26 alternative pay plan, which freezes General Schedule (GS) base and locality pay at 2026 levels while ordering a 3.8% increase for covered law enforcement personnel through special pay authorities.
What OPM Announced
The memo is CPM 2026-13, signed by Veronica E. Hinton, Associate Director for Workforce Policy and Innovation, and addressed to agency chief human capital officers. Its title says “Request for Information,” but agencies only need to respond in two cases: to opt out of the new coverage, or to send questions or comments. Both are due Nov. 25, 2026.
- The increases take effect Jan. 10, 2027, the first day of the first applicable pay period on or after Jan. 1.
- The new coverage applies automatically unless an agency asks to be excluded, using a letter signed by the agency head or a designee.
- The memo says the coverage changes are prospective, not retroactive.
- The employee categories listed are subject to agency review and comment, and OPM says final coverage will be announced with the 2027 special rate tables.
Which Special Rate Table Are You On?
OPM organizes the law enforcement special rates into three groups of tables. Where an employee lands determines the increase.
| Table group | Who it covers | January 2027 change |
|---|---|---|
| L001 through L059 | GS employees who meet the law enforcement officer (LEO) definition in 5 U.S.C. 5541(3) | 3.8% for current employees, about 6.7% for those newly added |
| L060 through L118 | GS law enforcement personnel who do not meet the LEO definition | 3.8% for current employees, about 6.7% for those newly added |
| L119 through L140 | Positions that already had special rates before 2026, such as certain Air Interdiction Agents | 3.8% for current employees, about 6.7% for certain positions added |
| New tables | Newly covered personnel not on any of the tables above | 6.68% |
| No table | Most other civilian employees | 0% |
Why Newly Covered Employees Get More
In January 2026, everyone received a 1% base pay increase. Employees on Tables L001 through L140 also received a 2.77% special rate increase, which brought their total to 3.8% (1.038 ÷ 1.01 − 1). Employees brought under the special rates in 2027 never received that 2.77%.
Ad
The wrong FEHB choice could cost you in 2027
Open Season is your chance to review your coverage before another year of premiums and out-of-pocket expenses. This FREE November 17 webinar breaks down 2027 plan changes, employee costs, government contributions, and FSA options. Save your seat today!
OPM says the goal is common pay levels for covered law enforcement positions. Newly covered employees therefore get the 2.77% on top of the 3.8%, which compounds to 6.68% (1.038 × 1.0277 − 1).
Worked Examples From the Memo
| Example | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Table L001, Alaska locality area, current employee | 36.03% special rate supplement | 41.20% supplement (1.3603 × 1.038 − 1) |
| Newly added to Table L001 in Alaska | 32.36% locality payment | About 6.7% raise (1.4120 ÷ 1.3236 − 1) |
| GS-4 police on Table 983A moving to Table L135 | 26% supplement | 34.41% supplement, about 6.7% raise |
| GS-4 police on Table 983D moving to a new table | 41% supplement | 50.42% supplement, 6.68% raise |
Who Is Newly Covered
For GS employees, the memo lists four categories to be extended coverage:
- Approved LEO positions under 5 U.S.C. 5541(3), excluding employees covered only because of frequent direct contact with detained suspected or convicted criminals.
- The 0083 Police series, excluding Department of Veterans Affairs police, whose January 2027 adjustment is handled separately under title 38 special rates.
- The 0080 Security Administration series, for employees who regularly perform both physical security and law enforcement duties and have arrest authority.
- The 1811 Criminal Investigation series.
OPM says it plans to extend 6.68% to some non-GS positions as well: FP-1811 criminal investigators at the Department of Commerce and the Peace Corps, and non-supervisory SK-1811 criminal investigators at the Securities and Exchange Commission, the latter subject to consultation with OPM. Non-GS positions that received 3.8% in 2026 stay at 3.8%: the Secret Service Uniformed Division, Diplomatic Security Service agents and criminal investigators, U.S. Park Police, and National Nuclear Security Administration nuclear materials couriers.
Separately, OPM is considering 3.8% special rates for Customs and Border Protection agricultural inspectors and certain firefighters. The memo describes these as protective positions rather than law enforcement occupations, and OPM staff will contact agencies for staffing data.
Two Pay Limits Can Reduce the Raise
Special rates cannot exceed level IV of the Executive Schedule, which stays at $197,200 in 2027 under the alternative pay plan. A second limit says the minimum rate of a special rate schedule for a grade cannot be more than 30% above the maximum basic pay otherwise payable for that grade, excluding locality pay. The memo warns that employees at or near either limit may see no increase, or less than 3.8% (current) or 6.7% (newly covered). For salary context, see the GS pay scale page.
Why This Matters for Retirement
OPM says special rates are basic pay for most purposes, including retirement. The raise therefore feeds the High-3 average salary used to calculate a Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) pension, not only take-home pay.
The first illustration uses the basic FERS formula of 1% of High-3 for each year of service, with 30 years of service and a $90,000 High-3:
| Scenario | High-3 | Annual pension |
|---|---|---|
| No raise | $90,000 | $27,000 |
| 3.8% increase | $93,420 | $28,026 |
| 6.68% increase | $96,012 | $28,804 |
Employees covered by the FERS special retirement provisions for law enforcement officers use a higher formula: 1.7% of High-3 for each of the first 20 years of service and 1% for each year after that. Coverage under those provisions is a separate question from special rate coverage, and the definitions differ, so check the position’s retirement coverage on OPM’s FERS computation page. For an employee with 25 years of service, the multiplier is 39%:
| Scenario | High-3 | Annual pension |
|---|---|---|
| No raise | $90,000 | $35,100 |
| 3.8% increase | $93,420 | $36,434 |
| 6.68% increase | $96,012 | $37,445 |
Both illustrations assume the raise applies to the full 36-month High-3 window. For an employee retiring in 2027 or 2028, only part of the window includes the higher pay, so the effect is smaller at first and builds as more months at the new rate enter the average.
What This Does Not Change
The memo does not create a governmentwide raise. Under the alternative pay plan, most GS employees remain at 0% in January unless Congress acts. Retiree cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) follow a separate statutory formula, and the 2027 figures are tracked on the COLA Watch page.
What to Watch Next
- The Nov. 25 deadline for agency opt-outs and comments.
- OPM’s final coverage list and the 2027 special rate tables, expected by the end of the year.
- Whether OPM approves special rates for firefighters and agricultural inspectors.
- Whether Congress includes any federal pay provisions in upcoming spending legislation.