The new administration’s first major set of legislative proposals likely will come in the context of budget proposals to Congress.
That could come in two separate stages, since most of the government is operating under only a temporary funding measure lasting through April, while the regular budget cycle for the new fiscal year typically starts with a White House proposal in early February; during the last transition between parties, in 2009, the Obama administration proposed a revised budget in early March.
One or both budget efforts could become the vehicle for proposals repeatedly raised by House Republicans in recent years, such as increasing required retirement contributions by all employees and restricting the government contribution toward health insurance premiums–and could carry out a campaign promise to recommend programs to eliminate as ineffective, along with the associated jobs.
The full-year budget plan also likely will contain the first word on the pay raise January 2018–that number is expected to be small, if not zero.
Meanwhile, introduction in the House is still being awaited for a bill aimed at reducing appeal rights for all employees and eliminate, for those hired in the future most appeal rights as well as the defined benefit portion of the federal retirement package. That bill could become the vehicle for the other proposals affecting the workforce.
