Federal employees will see a pay freeze in 2026 based on President Trump’s initial budget request for Fiscal Year 2026, released in early May, and additional details included in a technical supplement released last week.

This is a blow for federal employees, who already earn nearly 25 percent less than their counterparts in the private sector, but it is not yet the end of the process. In August, President Trump will send his annual alternative pay plan letter to Congress, which could include a pay boost.

The uniformed military is slated to receive a 3.8 percent pay boost in 2026.

FMA will continue to urge Congress and the administration to provide for a fair and reasonable pay raise that reflects the needs of the workforce for 2026. We endorsed the Federal Adjustment to Income Rates (FAIR) Act (H.R. 493 / S. 126) in January 2025, which would provide an average 4.3 percent pay raise in 2026. However, while FMA continues to support the FAIR Act, we will now prioritize our advocacy on providing federal employees, who provide services to the country with a similar commitment to their uniformed military counterparts, with pay parity and a 3.8 percent raise for 2026.

Federal managers, and indeed all feds, deserve to be treated with respect for their efforts and the dedicated work they perform. Civil servants ensure our citizens are protected from enemies and disease, and ensure our way of life is protected for generations to come. It is not too much to ask that, in return, feds be given the ability to maintain a living wage that keeps up with inflation and that provides for them and their families.

Feds received a 4.6 percent pay raise in 2023, followed by a 5.2 percent boost in 2024 and a 2 percent raise for this year.