White House Budget Proposes 2.7 Percent Raise, OPM IT Modernization

MYTH VS. REALITY

MYTH: The August congressional recess is a time for members of Congress to go on a month-long vacation and shirk their job duties. REALITY: While Congress may not be in session during August, lawmakers are working in their home districts—holding town halls, meeting with constituent groups and attending other public events to connect with those they serve. This gives NARFE members great opportunities to meet with their legislators and talk about NARFE’s priorities.

spokesperson from OPM told Federal News Network “OPM is working with Congress to address concerns involving how the health care provisions of the legislation will impact the cost and delivery of health care benefits and services for federal employees and other FEHBP beneficiaries.”

It is NARFE’s position that a new program should retain all postal employees and retirees, rather than singling out and excluding retirees without Medicare, a move that could set a dangerous precedent for the future of the FEHB program.

NARFE is continuing to work with lawmakers to address these concerns, but if they are not adequately handled, NARFE will urge opposition to this or any other bill that undermines the earned health benefits of our nation’s current and former public servants.

—BY ROSS APTER, POLITICAL ASSOCIATE

Federal employees could receive a 2.7 percent average pay increase for calendar year 2022, if the proposed raise in the Biden administration’s fiscal year 2022 (FY 2022) budget request holds. The $6 trillion proposal, published by the White House in May, seeks a 16 percent rise in nondefense discretionary spending over FY 2021 levels. Defense spending would see a modest bump of 1.7 percent from FY 2021. Presidential budgets are commonly released in February, but the first one from a new administration is usually delayed due to the late-January inauguration date.

NARFE National President Ken Thomas applauded the administration’s proposed 2.7 percent average pay increase for federal employees, and he urged Congress to approve the

raise in the coming months. Thomas noted that the proposal recognizes and respects hardworking civil servants who have “rededicated themselves to performing at high levels while weathering a global pandemic,” and that meaningful, marketbased pay raises are key to improving federal recruitment and retention. The 2.7 percent average pay increase also restores pay parity for federal civilian employees, as the raise matches the president’s proposed pay increase for military members. The previous administration rejected pay parity, proposing pay raises for the military while pushing for pay freezes for federal employees.

The budget request also asks Congress to appropriate money for an Information Technology Working Capital Fund for the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which would give the

THE $6 TRILLION PROPOSAL, PUBLISHED BY THE WHITE HOUSE IN MAY, SEEKS A 16 PERCENT RISE IN NONDEFENSE DISCRETIONARY SPENDING OVER FY 2021 LEVELS.