The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has expanded the special 3.8% pay raise that was authorized by President Trump to additional federal employees in law enforcement. The new positions will still have the same effective date (January 11, 2026) as the previously announced positions.
The additional positions eligible for the higher 2026 pay raise are in the General Schedule and are based on the employee’s grade and step and location of the employee’s official duty station, as documented on his or her most recent SF-50.
Law Enforcement Positions Eligible for Additional 2026 Federal Pay Raise
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
- GS-1811 Criminal Investigators
- United States Coast Guard
- GS-1811 Criminal Investigators
- Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC)
- GS-1811 Criminal Investigators
- GS-0080 Physical Security Specialists (who meet “law enforcement officer” definition under 5 U.S.C. 5541(3))
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
- GS-0083 Police Officers
- GS-0080 Police Chief and Deputy Chief
- Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
- GS-1801 Investigative Program Specialists
- GS-1801 Protective Security Investigators (who meet “law enforcement officer” definition under 5 U.S.C. 5541(3))
Department of the Treasury
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
- GS/GL-1811 Special Agents (all grades)
- Automatically triggers parallel special rate supplements for IR-1811 Special Agents under 5 U.S.C. 9509
- GS/GL-1811 Special Agents (all grades)
Department of Commerce
- Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS)
- GS-1811 Criminal Investigators / Special Agents
- Office of Security
- GS-0083 Police Officers
- Commerce Alternative Personnel System (CAPS)
- ZS-0083 Police Officers
- ZA-0080 Police Chief and Deputy
- ZA-1811 Criminal Investigators (NOAA)
- ZA-1801 Enforcement Officers with arrest authority (NOAA)
- Coverage under those special rates will automatically trigger parallel pay adjustments under CAPS for covered employees.
Agencies with Law Enforcement Positions Supporting Personal Protection Services
OPM has updated the special rate tables to give the higher pay raise to certain law enforcement positions that provide personal protection services within the following agencies:
- U.S. Trade Representative
- Department of Energy
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Department of Commerce
- Department of Transportation (DOT)
- Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
- Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
- Small Business Administration (SBA)
- Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
About the Special Law Enforcement 2026 Federal Pay Raise
When President Trump issued his alternative pay plan for the 2026 federal pay raise, he authorized a total 3.8% pay raise for federal employees in certain law enforcement positions to match the raise being given to members of the military.
Covered law enforcement personnel will receive the 1% across-the-board pay increase authorized by the President, plus an additional pay increase of approximately 2.8%, for a 3.8% total pay increase in January 2026, subject to the statutory limit on special rates of the rate for level IV of the Executive Schedule ($197,200). This statutory pay cap will
prevent some covered law enforcement personnel from receiving the full 3.8% increase, but most employees should receive at least a 1% adjustment.
The higher pay raise is being implemented through special rate tables (tables L001 – L133) for the 2026 federal pay raise. The tables cover all steps in each of grades GS-1 through 15 for covered positions.
OPM is authorized to establish special rates to address staffing problems caused by significantly higher non-federal pay rates than those payable by the federal government within the area, location, or occupational group involved; the remoteness of the area or location involved; the undesirability of the working conditions or nature of the work involved; or any other circumstances OPM considers appropriate.
