Federal Managers Association

Press Release

• FMA DISAPPOINTED BY PRESIDENT'S FY21 BUDGET REQUEST - February 10, 2020
• Alexandria, VA – On Monday, February 10, President Donald Trump formally released the administration's fiscal year 2021 (FY21) budget request. As in recent years, it proposes enormous cuts to federal employee retirement benefits by raising employee contributions one percent a year for six years. It also eliminates cost of living adjustments (COLAs) for all FERS employees, cuts CSRS COLAs, eliminates the FERS annuity supplement, and proposes to base annuity calculations on employees’ “High-5” salary years, instead of the High-3. Additionally, it seeks to modify the Thrift Savings Plan G-Fund. Federal Managers Association (FMA) National President Renee Johnson made the following comments on the administration’s budget plans:
  
  
  “FMA shares the administration’s goal of modernizing the federal workforce and delivering effective and efficient services. However, we are frustrated and disappointed that the administration’s budget request again calls for huge cuts to federal employee retirement packages in the name of ‘government efficiency.’ 
  
  
  “Like last year’s proposed cuts, in addition to hurting current and even retired feds, these proposals would only increase the ongoing challenges of recruitment and retention. Only six percent of the federal workforce is under the age of 30. In comparison, that age group makes up nearly 25 percent of the private sector. Continual budget uncertainty, and even more cutting of benefits will certainly make the task of attracting the best and the brightest that much more difficult. 
  
  
  “We recognize the administration’s call for a one percent pay raise for federal employees in 2021, as well as ‘on the-spot and ratings-based performance awards,’ is an improvement over the pay freeze recommended in previous years. However, FMA has endorsed and will push for the 3.5 percent raise included in the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act (H.R. 5690 / S. 3231) as proposed in Congress last month.  
  
  
  “The federal government should always strive to be a model employer, and FMA exists to advocate for that ideal with both Congress and the administration. We know this budget request is a starting point, and we look forward to working with all decision makers to craft a solution that provides the federal workforce the resources it needs to provide the services America’s citizens count on."  
  
  

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