President’s Budget Boosts Federal Employees

It has been a few years, but today we finally saw a White House budget proposal that builds up federal agencies and the federal workforce.

Almost across the board, President Biden is proposing increases to federal agencies to begin the rebuilding process--including additional money for staffing.

A proposed 2.7 percent pay increase for 2022 is a solid start toward securing a fair raise for employees and a radical departure from the past four years of budget proposals that sought paltry increases or pay freezes. NTEU has endorsed congressional legislation calling for an average 3.2 percent increase that includes a 2.2 percent across-the-board hike and 1 percent toward locality pay. We will work with the administration and lawmakers to get the 3.2 percent signed into law. Learn more

Federal employees would benefit from the administration’s call for a national paid family and medical leave program. This would build on the paid parental leave program that started last October and give federal families the ability to care for a sick family member without worrying about losing a paycheck. NTEU-endorsed legislation has already been introduced in the House and Senate to provide comprehensive paid family leave to federal employees.

NTEU welcomes the president’s commitment to labor unions generally and his recognition of the importance of federal unions and federal workers. “The Administration is committed to respecting and partnering with career civil servants who form the backbone of the Federal Government,” the budget document says.

Watch for more details on agency-specific funding proposals next week.

With the release of the president’s budget proposal, Congress will begin the appropriations process and NTEU will work with our allies to secure higher funding, paid family leave and the pay raise you deserve.