16 Things Seniors Born Between 1941-1969 Could Take Advantage Of
The White House issued an Executive Order today finalizing the 2026 federal employee pay raise of 1% across the board increase with no increase for locality pay. It’s the smallest annual increase for civilian employees since 2021
The 2026 GS pay schedules are effective the first day of the first applicable pay period beginning on or after January 1, 2026.
SEE ALSO: 2026 Federal Retiree COLA Increase
The 2026 GS pay scale increase coincides with White House’s alternative play plan issued earlier this year which proposed an across-the-board 2026 federal employee pay raise of 1 percent.
OPM 2026 GS Pay Tables (Now Available)
The Office of Personnel Management has also publish the official 2026 GS Pay tables.
2026 GS Pay Scale Table
Incorporating the 4.7% General Schedule Increase (not including locality pay adjustments)
Effective January 2026
Annual Rates by Grade and Step
Below is the full text of the Executive Order.
Executive Order on Adjustments of Certain Rates of Pay
December 18, 2025
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:
Section 1. Statutory Pay Systems. The rates of basic pay or salaries of the statutory pay systems (as defined in 5 U.S.C. 5302(1)), as adjusted under 5 U.S.C. 5303, are set forth on the schedules attached hereto and made a part hereof:
(a) The General Schedule (5 U.S.C. 5332(a)) at Schedule 1;
(b) The Foreign Service Schedule (22 U.S.C. 3963) at Schedule 2; and
(c) The schedules for the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs (38 U.S.C. 7306, 7401, 7404; section 301(a) of Public Law 102–40) at Schedule 3.
Sec. 2. Senior Executive Service. The ranges of rates of basic pay for senior executives in the Senior Executive Service, as established pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 5382, are set forth on Schedule 4 attached hereto and made a part hereof.
Sec. 3. Certain Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Salaries. The rates of basic pay or salaries for the following offices and positions are set forth on the schedules attached hereto and made a part hereof:
(a) The Executive Schedule (5 U.S.C. 5311–5318) at Schedule 5;
(b) The Vice President (3 U.S.C. 104) and the Congress (2 U.S.C. 4501) at Schedule 6; and
(c) Justices and judges (28 U.S.C. 5, 44(d), 135, 252, and 461(a)) at Schedule 7.
Sec. 4. Uniformed Services and Other. The rates of monthly basic pay (37 U.S.C. 203(a)) for members of the uniformed services, as adjusted under 37 U.S.C. 1009, and the rate of monthly cadet or midshipman pay (37 U.S.C. 203(c)) are set forth on Schedule 8 attached hereto and made a part hereof. Additionally, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (Director) is directed to assess whether to provide up to a total increase of 3.8 percent (inclusive of the increase provided under Section 1) to the rates of pay of certain Federal civilian law enforcement personnel, as determined by the Director following coordination with agencies and consistent with 5 U.S.C. 5305.
Sec. 5. Locality-Based Comparability Payments. (a) Pursuant to section 5304 of title 5, United States Code, and my authority to implement an alternative level of comparability payments under section 5304a of title 5, United States Code, locality-based comparability payments shall be paid in accordance with Schedule 9 attached hereto and made a part hereof.
(b) The Director shall take such actions as may be necessary to implement these payments and to publish appropriate notice of such payments in the Federal Register.
Sec. 6. Administrative Law Judges. Pursuant to section 5372 of title 5, United States Code, the rates of basic pay for administrative law judges are set forth on Schedule 10 attached hereto and made a part hereof.
Sec. 7. Effective Dates. Schedule 8 is effective January 1, 2026. The other schedules contained herein are effective on the first day of the first applicable pay period beginning on or after January 1, 2026.
Sec. 8. Prior Order Superseded. Executive Order 14132 of December 23, 2024 (Adjustments of Certain Rates of Pay), is superseded as of the effective dates specified in section 7 of this order.
DONALD J. TRUMP
THE WHITE HOUSE