NARFE Disappointed Senate Subcommittee Cedes Pay Authority to President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                
September 18, 2019   

In response to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government being silent on a federal employee pay raise for 2020 in its fiscal year 2020 (FY20) appropriations bill, NARFE National President Ken Thomas issued the following statement:

“On a bipartisan basis, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government failed to exercise its authority to provide federal employees any pay raise next year. Private-sector pay increases continue to outpace federal pay rates, and Congress has approved a 3.1 percent pay increase for the uniformed service members often working side by side their civilian counterparts. Yet, Senate appropriators have abrogated their responsibility and put their trust in the president, who has indicated support for a below-market 2.6 percent pay raise. NARFE urges Senate appropriators to follow the lead of their House colleagues and provide federal workers with a 3.1 percent pay raise.”

In addition to this statement, NARFE submitted a letter to the subcommittee on September 11.

Background

• In June, the House passed appropriations legislation that would provide federal employees with an average 3.1 percent pay raise. That legislation also blocks the Trump administration from moving forward on its proposed reorganization of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). 
• President Trump initially called for a pay freeze in his budget request released in March but then reversed course in August to support a 2.6 percent federal employee pay raise.
                                                         
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As the only organization solely dedicated to the general welfare of all federal workers and retirees, NARFE delivers valuable guidance, timely resources and powerful advocacy. For nearly a century, NARFE has been a trusted source of knowledge for the federal community, Capitol Hill, the executive branch and the media.

CONTACT:
Jill Talley
NARFE Director of Public Relations
jtalley@narfe.org
(703)838-7760