Democratic lawmakers are calling for a substantially larger federal pay raise in 2027, with new legislation that would provide a 4.1% pay increase for civilian federal employees next year.
Rep. James Walkinshaw (D-Va.) and Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) reintroduced the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act this week. The lawmakers said their bill aims to keep federal salaries in line with the private sector and rising costs of living.
“Federal workers are the backbone of America, delivering the essential services and benefits that families have earned in every corner of our country,” Walkinshaw said. “They serve communities nationwide and have done so honorably even as the Trump administration has launched unprecedented attacks on the civil service.”
The proposed 4.1% pay raise combines a 3.1% across-the-board raise with an average of a 1% locality pay adjustment. It would be significantly larger than the 1% raise most civilian federal employees saw for 2026 — the smallest pay increase employees have received since 2021.
Click here to read the rest of the article written by Drew Friedman over at Federal News Network
