Federal Managers Association

Press Release

• FMA DECRIES PRESIDENT’S EXECUTIVE ORDER CALLING FOR FEDERAL PAY FREEZE IN 2019 - December 29, 2018
• Congress Must Override Freeze
  
  
  Alexandria, VA – On the evening of Friday, December 28, 2018, President Trump issued an executive order calling for a freeze of federal employees’ pay in fiscal year 2019. Though the president called for a freeze in February, Congress had reached an agreement in October to provide feds with an across-the-board 1.9 percent pay raise. Federal Managers Association (FMA) National President Renee Johnson made the following comments on the ordered pay freeze:
  
  
  "As I stated just one week ago when it became evident that Congress and the President would be unable to reach agreement to avert a partial government shutdown, FMA is dismayed that much of the government remains closed during this holiday season. Now, we have learned that President Trump has issued an executive order calling for a pay freeze for all federal employees. A situation that was already deeply regrettable and wholly avertable has now become a direct slap in the face to all federal employees facing a pay freeze, despite Congress earlier calling for a 1.9 percent pay raise for the federal workforce in 2019. 
  
  
  “Federal managers, and indeed all feds, deserve to be treated with the respect for our efforts and the work we have performed over many years. Every job we hold and perform daily is because of a congressional mandate. We work to fulfill these mandates to ensure American citizens are protected from enemies and disease, and ensure our way of life is protected for generations to come. It is not too much to ask that, in return, feds be given the ability to maintain a living wage that keeps up with inflation and that provides for them and their families. In a time when unemployment is near record lows and despite recent stock market fluctuations, our economy has been on a 10 year rise, it is difficult to understand why federal employees should be singled out for a pay freeze.

  
  

  “The House Democrats have stated they intend to introduce legislation upon taking power in early January that would provide for a federal employee pay raise in 2019. The Senate has already shown its desire to provide for a pay raise of 1.9 percent. We ask that the Senate join with the House and demand a pay raise for our nation’s civil servants. Whether the president will veto this legislation nor not, Congress must do the right thing and show our country that our federal government employees are valued and ensure our institutions are able to execute their respective missions. As the new Congress looks to reopen the government, I urge our leaders to pass legislation that will retroactively include a 1.9 percent pay raise for all feds.”

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