More Details on Federal Law Enforcement Pay Raise
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) released new details on the pay raise for law enforcement personnel.
In his alternative pay plan, President Trump called for a one percent raise for most civilian federal employees, which would be the smallest pay increase in four years for next year, with locality frozen as well.
However, the president’s plan called for federal law enforcement personnel to receive a 3.8 percent pay raise in line with the military pay raise.
In a new memo, OPM says it will use its special salary rate authority to enact the higher raise for law enforcement personnel. OPM can establish special salary rates for positions that may have recruitment and/or retention problems.
“Without special salary rates, the Government may find it difficult to recruit and/or retain the number of these personnel needed to properly enforce our borders, uphold our immigration laws, and protect law-abiding citizens,” wrote OPM.
OPM also said it will consult with federal agencies including the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Department of the Interior to identify eligible law enforcement positions. Those initially listed include positions with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Secret Service, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and others.
The proposal received support from the Fraternal Order of Police.
“These men and women face the same recruitment and retention challenges as State and local officers, and the President’s proposal sends a strong message that the service and sacrifice of these Federal officers are valued,” said Fraternal Order of Police National President Patrick Noes.
Civilians in Line for One Percent Raise
Meanwhile, civilian feds are in line for the one percent bump, the lowest since January 2021, in the last year of the first Trump administration. More recently, most white collar federal workers received raises of 2.7 percent in 2022, 4.6 percent in 2023, 5.2 percent in 2024, and 2 percent in 2025.
The White House is required to submit an alternative pay plan in August, to offset potential increases under the 1990 Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act (FEPCA).
The president wrote that without the alternative pay plan, under FEPCA, federal employees would be in line for 3.3 percent across the board increase, and an additional locality pay raise of 18.88 percent.
“Federal agency budgets cannot sustain such irresponsible increases,” stated President Trump. “My alternative pay plan will further my Administration's efforts to create an excellent and efficient Federal workforce of the highest caliber while maintaining fiscal responsibility.”
Federal employee organizations voiced their disapproval.
“As this administration continues to press ahead with large-scale reductions in the federal workforce, and prices continue to rise, a below-market, 1% pay increase fails to keep up with inflation and is inadequate compensation for the increased workload placed upon the remaining federal employees,” said NARFE National President William Shakelford.
“At the very least, the planned 3.8 percent average increase for military and federal law enforcement should be extended to all federal employees,” said National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) national president Doreen Greenwald. “Even better, NTEU has endorsed legislation that would give all federal employees an average 4.3 percent raise next year, and we will continue to urge Congress to override the president’s below-market raise and give all federal employees a fair increase in January.”
Now this is not final. Congress can weigh in by including language on employee pay in funding bills. During a committee markup this week, Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) offered an amendment to the House Financial Services and General Government spending bill to provide for federal employee pay parity, but it was rejected on party lines.
The president must also publish an executive order in December formally implementing the pay plan.
This also comes as the Federal Salary Council reported that in 2024, federal employees earned on average, nearly 25 percent less than private sector counterparts in similar occupations.