White House: Your Pay is Officially Frozen Through March 2013

The president made the pay freeze extension on the federal workforce official this afternoon when he issued a presidential memorandum directing heads of agencies to not issue any pay increases until at least March 27, 2013.

The president made the pay freeze extension on the federal workforce official this afternoon when he issued a presidential memorandum directing heads of agencies to not issue any pay increases until at least March 27, 2013.

President Obama had previously said he wanted to end the pay freeze in 2013 and give federal employees a 0.5% pay raise, but would not do so until Congress passes a budget. This has obviously not happened, and this memo comes on the heels of the news that the fiscal cliff talks hit a major obstacle last night when House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) announced he didn’t have the votes to move forward with “Plan B.”

Presidential Memorandum — Federal Employee Pay Schedules and Rates that are Set by Administrative Discretion

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
December 21, 2012

MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES

SUBJECT: Federal Employee Pay Schedules and Rates That Are Set by Administrative Discretion

On December 22, 2010, I issued a memorandum stating that the heads of executive departments and agencies should suspend any increases to any pay systems or pay schedules covering executive branch employees, and should forgo any general increases in covered employees’ rates of pay, that could otherwise take effect as a result of the exercise of administrative discretion during the period beginning on January 1, 2011, and ending on December 31, 2012. In light of section 114 of the Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2013 (Public Law 112-175), I am hereby instructing the heads of executive departments and agencies that they should continue to adhere to this policy through March 27, 2013, the date after which statutory pay adjustments may be made pursuant to section 114 of Public Law 112-175.

This memorandum shall be carried out to the extent permitted by law and consistent with executive departments’ and agencies’ legal authorities. This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall issue any necessary guidance on implementing this memorandum, and is also hereby authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

BARACK OBAMA

About the Author

Ian Smith is one of the co-founders of FedSmith.com. He has over 20 years of combined experience in media and government services, having worked at two government contracting firms and an online news and web development company prior to his current role at FedSmith.