The 119th Congress convened on January 3, 2025, and members got right to work introducing bills addressing several of FMA’s legislative priorities. See below for a brief spotlight on some of them:

Federal Adjustment to Income Rates (FAIR) Act

Federal pay has not kept pace with inflation, and retention of feds is at severe risk. The Federal Salary Council recently reported that federal workers earned nearly 25 percent less than private sector counterparts, a growing disparity that will only force more of the best and brightest out of federal service. FMA urges Congress to provide for a fair and reasonable pay raise that reflects the needs of the workforce for 2026.

Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) and Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) introduced the Federal Adjustment to Income Rates (FAIR) Act (H.R. 493 / S. 126) which would provide a 4.3 percent pay raise in 2026.

“Whether it’s inspecting our food, conducting medical research, or caring for veterans, federal workers play an important role in our daily lives and deserve pay that reflects that,” said Senator Schatz in a statement. “Our bill boosts wages to keep public service jobs competitive with those in the private sector and maintain a strong and talented federal workforce.”

Equal COLA Act

FERS COLAs are artificially reduced any time the CSRS COLA is above 1 percent. When the CPI-W increase is 3 percent or greater, the FERS COLA is reduced by 1 percent. If the CPI-W is between 2 and 3 percent, like the 2.5 percent for 2025, FERS retirees see a 2 percent COLA, and when the CPI-W is less than 2 percent, the COLA is equal to the price index.

Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) introduced the Equal COLA Act (H.R. 491), which would bring equity to the way the COLAs are determined for all federal retirees.

“Federal retirees served our country with patriotism and honor, regardless of which retirement system they fall under,” said Connolly in a press release upon introduction. “The economic conditions that necessitate cost-of-living adjustments affect retirees in the same way, whether they are on CSRS or FERS. It is high time we recognized that reality. The Equal COLA Act will rectify the unfair two-tiered process we have in place now and will bring parity to a federal retirement system that has unjustly penalized certain retirees for too long.”

Telework Reform Act

Senator James Lankford (R-OK) reintroduced the Telework Reform Act (S. 82) early in the 119th Congress. This legislation, endorsed by FMA, is identical to the bipartisan bill that passed the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in the 118th Congress. This common sense legislation codifies the definitions of telework and remote work, aims to enhance supervisor training and monitoring, accountability, and reporting for these arrangements. Further, it orders agencies to “identify potential value from increasing remote and other telework opportunities, which job classifications could benefit from being performed through telework, and expected cost savings and productivity outcomes resulting from the increased use of remote work and telework.”

Among its specific provisions, S. 82 would:

• Require telework and remote work agreements between employees and agencies be renewed on an annual basis, including a review of agency needs;

• Require employees to take telework training every year;

• Require biannual surveys on telework usage; and,

• Require an annual review of telework guidelines by the Office of Management and Budget.

Saving the Civil Service Act

Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) and Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) reintroduced the Saving the Civil Service Act (H.R. 492 / S. 134), legislation that would uphold a merit-based civil service, free of politicization, and ensure the oath federal managers take continues to be to the Constitution and not to any political party, Democratic or Republican.

In October 2020, the administration created a new category of positions in the federal workforce, called “Schedule F,” that covered certain policy roles. These positions would have been exempt from competitive hiring rules, and employees in those roles would not have had access to due process, including the right to appeal if removed from these positions. Positions deemed “policy advisory” would have essentially become political appointees, removing job protections for upwards of 50,000 federal employees. For reference, the president appoints a little more than 4,000 political positions in the current system.

FMA strenuously objected to the creation of Schedule F. It would increase politicization of the federal workforce and be a giant leap toward a return of the spoils system, prioritizing political loyalty over qualification and merit. The Executive Order that created Schedule F was revoked in January 2021. However, Schedule F was restored, now going by "Schedule Policy/Career," in January 2025.

MANAGER Act

Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX) reintroduced the Manager Attitudes and Notions According to Government Employee Responses (MANAGER) Act (H.R. 242) early in the 119th Congress. The legislation would require the annual Federal Employees Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) to include questions specific to management.

The bill passed the House Oversight and Accountability Committee in the 118th Congress, but did not receive any further consideration. In a statement upon committee passage, Sessions said, "Efficiency in government agencies is essential for taxpayers and government employees alike. I am committed to creating and supporting legislation that eliminates waste in our government to protect taxpayers. Federal managers are responsible for getting results to the American people. This survey will identify areas where federal employees in supervisory positions need support to ensure that our government is working effectively for our citizens."

Sessions expressed a willingness to work with Democrats on revising specific questions, but doubled down on the overall mission of an annual survey of federal managers.

For our part, FMA strongly supports the goal of an annual survey of federal managers and is also open to modifying the phrasing and layout of specific questions in that survey. FMA National President Craig Carter expressed flexibility with modifying the phrasing of the specific questions posed as the bill goes through the legislative process. “However, it is critical and overdue for an annual survey to include manager-specific questions for managers across the federal workforce,” Carter wrote.

To follow these bills through the legislative process click here.