The freeze on the actual rate of pay for the Vice President and certain senior political appointees will continue in effect at the 2013 level of pay.
Why the Freeze is Still in Effect
The freeze is still in effect because of the Further Continuing and Security Assistance Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 114-254). This legislation provides continuing appropriations to federal agencies through April 28, 2017. The authority and conditions provided in FY 2016 appropriations laws still apply.
The executive order on 2017 pay adjustments shows official pay rates for the Vice President, Executive Schedule positions, and other positions affected by the pay freeze.
Impact of Statutory Rates of Pay
Statutory pay rates for the Vice President and Executive Schedule positions determine the rate ranges and pay limitations for employees and pay systems generally unaffected by the pay freeze.
Executive Schedule Pay Rates
| Level I | $207,800 |
| Level II | $187,000 |
| Level III | $172,100 |
| Level IV | $161,900 |
| Level V | $151,700 |
Vice President And Members of Congress
| Vice President | $240,100 |
| Senators | $174,000 |
| Members of the House | $174,000 |
| Delegates to the House | $174,000 |
| Majority leader and minority leader of the Senate | $193,400 |
| Majority leader and minority leader of the House | $193,400 |
| Speaker of the House | $223,500 |
While there are pay limitations, positions that are generally unaffected by the pay freeze include General Schedule (GS), Senior Executive Service (SES), senior-level (SL) and scientific and professional (ST) positions.
The official 2017 pay rate for EX-IV is $161,900. This rate is used in applying the trigger for coverage under the pay freeze for covered political appointees.
An SES or SL political appointee paid less than $161,900 may receive a pay increase up to this rate. A person in these positions may not receive an increase above this rate or any subsequent increase. There are some exceptions provided in the pay freeze statutory authority.
