The measure meanwhile incorporates a bill previously passed by the House on party lines to require agencies to return to pre-pandemic telework policies. Image: Framalicious/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffThe House version of the key annual spending bill for federal workplace matters, the general government appropriations bill, is silent regarding a January 2024 federal employee raise but contains numerous policy provisions.
The bill was approved by a subcommittee on a voice vote along party lines, sending it to possible consideration by the full Appropriations Committee soon.
Congress often has used a provision of federal employee pay law to accept the White House’s recommendation for a raise by taking no position. However, an opportunity will arise at the full committee level or in later House voting for opponents to offer an alternative to the 5.2 percent average raise that President Biden recommended.
That bill, like several others progressing in the committee, generally funds agencies at levels lower than those laid out in the recently enacted law to suspend the federal debt ceiling until 2025. The bill also funds numerous financial services and regulatory agencies that would see cuts from those levels, including the IRS, SEC, FTC, FCC, FEC and CSPC.
That reflects views by many House Republicans that those limits were not tight enough; Democrats counter that the law represented a bipartisan agreement and that the lower House figures stand little chance of acceptance in the Democratic-controlled Senate. During the subcommittee’s brief consideration of the bill, most of the discussion focused on that issue and there was no mention regarding the 2024 raise.
The measure meanwhile incorporates a bill previously passed by the House on party lines to require agencies to return to pre-pandemic telework policies while having to make a business case before increasing telework. It also would bar:
· Enforcement of Biden administration executive orders on diversity, equity inclusiveness and accessibility initiatives, including one directly affecting the federal workforce.
· Agencies from paying the salary of a federal employee who “unjustifiably refuses to comply with a duly issued and valid congressional subpoena.”
· Investment of money in the TSP in mutual funds that “make investment decisions based primarily on environmental, social, or governance criteria”—which the TSP has said would cause it to shut down its mutual fund window feature because it lacks the resources to check all of those funds for compliance.
· Coverage by FEHB plans of “surgical procedures or puberty blockers or hormone therapy for the purpose of gender affirming care.”
· The Treasury Department from paying bonuses to its employees until it produces a report on spending under pandemic relief programs.
The Senate counterpart committee has not yet released its version of the general government bill. In contrast to the partisanship that has marked the spending bills in the House, both of the bills it has approved so far, covering Agriculture/FDA and VA/military construction, drew unanimous support.
Congress Leaving Key Policy, Funding Decisions to the Fall
Guidance on ‘Schedule G’ Stresses Political Oversight
OPM Tells Agencies to Allow ‘Religious Expression’ in Federal Workplace
Agency RIFs, Reorganizations Starting to Take Shape
Order Formally Launches ‘Schedule Policy/Career,’ Adds Category of Appointees
Court Allows Order against Unions to Remain, but Congress Eyes Stepping In
See also,
Top 10 Provisions in the Big Beautiful Bill of Interest to Federal Employees
A Pre-RIF Checklist for Every Federal Employee, From a Federal Employment Attorney
Work Longer or Take the FERS Supplement Now: Which is Better?
Doubling Your TSP (C Fund vs G Fund)
