[House Document 115-149]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]





115th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - House Document 115-149 
 
AN ALTERNATIVE PLAN FOR PAY ADJUSTMENTS FOR CIVILIAN FEDERAL EMPLOYEES 
                    COVERED BY THE GENERAL SCHEDULE

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                     THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

AN ALTERNATIVE PLAN FOR PAY ADJUSTMENTS FOR CIVILIAN FEDERAL EMPLOYEES 
   COVERED BY THE GENERAL SCHEDULE AND CERTAIN OTHER PAY SYSTEMS IN 
 JANUARY 2019, PURSUANT TO 5 U.S.C. 5303(b)(1)(A); PUBLIC LAW 89-554, 
 SEC. 5303(b)(1)(A) (AS AMENDED BY PUBLIC LAW 101-509, SEC. 529); (104 
  STAT 1430) AND 5 U.S.C. 5304a(a); PUBLIC LAW 101-509, TITLE I, SEC. 
                      101(a)(1); (104 STAT. 1436)





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August 31, 2018.--Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government 
                    Reform and ordered to be printed
                                  ______
		 
                     U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE 
		 
79-011                    WASHINGTON : 2018                 















                                           The White House,
                                       Washington, August 30, 2018.
Hon. Paul D. Ryan,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Speaker: I am transmitting an alternative plan for 
pay adjustments for civilian Federal employees covered by the 
General Schedule and certain other pay systems in January 2019.
    Title 5, United States Code, authorizes me to implement 
alternative plans for pay adjustments for civilian Federal 
employees covered by the General Schedule and certain other pay 
systems if, because of ``national emergency or serious economic 
conditions affecting the general welfare,'' I view the 
increases that would otherwise take effect as inappropriate.
    Under current law, locality pay increases averaging 25.70 
percent, costing $25 billion, would go into effect in January 
2019, in addition to a 2.1 percent across-the-board increase 
for the base General Schedule. We must maintain efforts to put 
our Nation on a fiscally sustainable course, and Federal agency 
budgets cannot sustain such increases. Accordingly, I have 
determined that it is appropriate to exercise my authority to 
set alternative across-the-board and locality pay adjustments 
for 2019 pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 5303(b) and 5304a.
    Specifically, I have determined that for 2019, both across-
the-board pay increases and locality pay increases will be set 
at zero. These alternative pay plan decisions will not 
materially affect our ability to attract and retain a well-
qualified Federal workforce.
    As noted in my Budget for Fiscal Year 2019, the cost of 
employing the Federal workforce is significant. In light of our 
Nation's fiscal situation, Federal employee pay must be 
performance-based, and aligned strategically toward recruiting, 
retaining, and rewarding high-performing Federal employees and 
those with critical skill sets. Across-the-board pay increases 
and locality pay increases, in particular, have long-term fixed 
costs, yet fail to address existing pay disparities or target 
mission critical recruitment and retention goals.
    The adjustments described above shall take effect on the 
first day of the first applicable pay period beginning on or 
after January 1, 2019.
            Sincerely,
                                                   Donald J. Trump.

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