Should Federal Civilian Employees Get a 2.6% Pay Raise This Year? (H.R. 790)

What is H.R. 790?

(Updated April 7, 2021)

This bill would provide civilian federal employees with a pay increase of 2.6 percent for calendar year 2019, except for senior officials. It would match the pay raise given to the military and reverse the pay freeze put into effect by the Trump administration.

Argument in favor

The federal civilian workforce deserve a raise to keep up with rising costs of living. This bill would reverse the Trump administration’s pay freeze for federal civilian employees and give those workers a pay increase in line with what members of the military will receive.

Argument opposed

The federal government is running a deficit, and as result there isn’t enough money to give the entire federal workforce a raise. The pay freeze for federal civilian employees should remain in effect, in part so that the members of the U.S. Armed Forces can get a raise.

Impact

Federal civilian employees; and the federal budget.

Cost of H.R. 790

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) introduced this bill to give federal civilian employees a pay raise of 2.6% percent for 2019:

“Federal employees have dedicated their lives and careers in service to the American people. Yet far too often their sacrifice and dedication go unappreciated, met instead with insult and vitriol from the Oval Office. We must provide the entire federal workforce with a pay increase worthy of their selfless commitment to the betterment of the American public. The Federal Civilian Workforce Pay Raise Fairness Act reaffirms our conviction that public servants - civilian an d military alike - deserve better than the shutdowns, furloughs, and pay freezes forced upon them by the Trump administration.”

In December 2018, President Donald Trump followed through on a plan detailed in March by announcing a pay freeze for federal civilian employees in 2019.

This legislation has the support of nine original cosponsors, all of whom are Democrats representing districts near Washington D.C.

Media:

• Sponsoring Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) Press Release
  
• Federal Times
  
• Roll Call (Context)