We have been getting tons of questions from our readers wanting to know the status of the 2019 pay raise that was recently authorized by Congress. When will it be implemented? When can we expect the new pay tables to be issued by OPM? When will President Trump issue an executive order? Will he even issue an executive order?
We have an answer to at least one of these questions. The White House has released an executive order issued by President Trump authorizing the retroactive pay raise.
The finalized pay tables (which will include locality pay for all locality areas, including the 6 new areas) will undoubtably be forthcoming soon from the Office of Personnel Management. The pay raise granted a 1.4% across the board raise for federal employees with an additional .5% for locality pay.
Federal employees can expect to see the increase in their paychecks following the next full pay period.
A copy of the executive order is included below.
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Statutory Pay Systems. The rates of basic pay or salaries of the statutory pay systems (as defined in 5 U.S.C. 5302(1)), as adjusted under 5 U.S.C. 5303 and section 748 of title VII of division D of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 (Public Law 116-6), are set forth on the schedules attached hereto and made a part hereof:
(a) The General Schedule (5 U.S.C. 5332(a)) at Schedule 1;
(b) The Foreign Service Schedule (22 U.S.C. 3963) at Schedule 2; and
(c) The schedules for the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs (38 U.S.C. 7306, 7404; section 301(a) of Public Law 102–40) at Schedule 3.
Sec. 2. Senior Executive Service. The ranges of rates of basic pay for senior executives in the Senior Executive Service, as established pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 5382, are set forth on Schedule 4 attached hereto and made a part hereof.
Sec. 3. Certain Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Salaries. The rates of basic pay or salaries for the following offices and positions are set forth on the schedules attached hereto and made a part hereof:
(a) The Executive Schedule (5 U.S.C. 5312–5318) at Schedule 5;
(b) The Vice President (3 U.S.C. 104) and the Congress (2 U.S.C. 4501) at Schedule 6; and
(c) Justices and judges (28 U.S.C. 5, 44(d), 135, 252, and 461(a)) at Schedule 7.
Sec. 4. Uniformed Services. The rates of monthly basic pay (37 U.S.C. 203(a)) for members of the uniformed services, as adjusted under 37 U.S.C. 1009, and the rate of monthly cadet or midshipman pay (37 U.S.C. 203(c)) are set forth on Schedule 8 attached hereto and made a part hereof.
Sec. 5. Locality-Based Comparability Payments.
(a) Pursuant to sections 5304 and 5304a of title 5, United States Code, and section 748 of title VII of division D of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 (Public Law 116-6), locality-based comparability payments shall be paid in accordance with Schedule 9 attached hereto and made a part hereof.
(b) The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall take such actions as may be necessary to implement these payments and to publish appropriate notice of such payments in the Federal Register.
Sec. 6. Administrative Law Judges. Pursuant to section 5372 of title 5, United States Code, the rates of basic pay for administrative law judges are set forth on Schedule 10 attached hereto and made a part hereof.
Sec. 7. Effective Dates. Schedule 8 is effective January 1, 2019. The other schedules contained herein are effective on the first day of the first applicable pay period beginning on or after January 1, 2019.
Sec. 8. Prior Order Superseded. Executive Order 13856 of December 28, 2018, is superseded as of the effective dates specified in section 7 of this order.
DONALD J. TRUMP
THE WHITE HOUSE,
March 28, 2019.
