Federal employees entered the new year facing challenges on two fronts with the partial government shutdown and a federal pay freeze going into effect. As we have discussed in previous Washington Reports, the Senate had passed a 1.9 percent pay raise for feds in the fall of 2018 and the House was close to passing it before the November 2018 election, but was  unable to do so before the pay freeze went into effect on January 1. 

The 116th Congress has been more aggressive in attempting to reverse the administration’s pay freeze during its first month in session. Several bills which passed the House to end the government shutdown also called for a pay raise for all civilian feds. Once the partial shutdown concluded, a new call for a pay raise emerged. Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA) introduced the Federal Civilian Workforce Pay Raise Fairness Act of 2019 (H.R. 790) calling for a 2.6 percent pay raise. “On the heels of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, I believe it is appropriate for the House of Representatives to take up legislation to show federal employees that we in Congress appreciate the work that they do and the sacrifices they make,” Connolly said on the House floor. The bill passed by a vote of 259-161. FMA commended the House for passing the bill in a press release. 

Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) introduced companion legislation (S. 262) in the Senate which currently has 16 cosponsors. It is unclear whether the Senate will be taking up the bill, but FMA has endorsed the bill and the Federal-Postal Coalition has also sent a letter of support, urging the Senate to pass the bill. FMA remains cautiously optimistic that a pay raise in some form will be passed.