Budget Deal Gives Feds 1% Pay Hike

All federal workers are entitled to a 1% salary increase effective January as part of the budget deal that reopened the government and raised the debt limit, Federal Times reported Thursday.

Sean Reilly writes it marks the first across-the-board federal pay raise in three years and allows President Barack Obama to implement with his plan to end the salary rate freeze.

“The promise of a modest pay raise and back pay for furloughed government employees are good first steps in recognizing the value of federal workers,” Sen. Barbara Mikulski said in a joint statement with Sen. Ben Cardin, according to the report.

Jessica Klement, the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association’s legislative director, told Federal Times lawmakers can only block the presidential order by passing legislation.