Maryland, Virginia Senators Press OMB on Implementation of Federal Pay Raise

Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) and Tim Kaine and Mark Warner (both D-Va.) sent a letter to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Acting Director Russell Vought to request a timeline for the implementation of the 1.9 percent pay increase for federal employees that the Senators worked to pass into law earlier this year. While the pay increase was signed into law on February 15, the President has yet to sign an Executive Order to implement the increase.

The Senators write, “As you know, Congress passed a 1.9% pay raise for federal workers, retroactive to January 1, in the Consolidated Appropriations Act that President Trump signed into law on February 15. However, federal worker paychecks still reflect the pay freeze that President Trump instituted for 2019 prior to passage of the Consolidated Appropriations Act.”

They continue, “More than 800,000 dedicated federal workers went without pay during the recent government shutdown. We ask that you provide a timeframe for when these civil servants will see this modest cost-of-living adjustment in their paycheck.”

Earlier this year, the Senators fought for the inclusion of this modest cost of living adjustment in the budget funding agreement. The full text of the letter is available here and below.

Dear Mr. Vought:

We are writing to inquire about the status and timeline for implementing the 1.9% pay raise for federal workers that Congress enacted in legislation to fund the government for fiscal year 2019.

As you know, Congress passed a 1.9% pay raise for federal workers, retroactive to January 1, in the Consolidated Appropriations Act that President Trump signed into law on February 15. However, federal worker paychecks still reflect the pay freeze that President Trump instituted for 2019 prior to passage of the Consolidated Appropriations Act.

More than 800,000 dedicated federal workers went without pay during the recent government shutdown. We ask that you provide a timeframe for when these civil servants will see this modest cost-of-living adjustment in their paycheck.

Thank you for your time and attention on this important matter.

Sincerely,

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