President Biden unveiled his Fiscal Year 2024 budget request on Thursday, March 9. He is calling for a 5.2 percent pay raise for the federal workforce in 2024. The budget request also calls for comprehensive paid leave for all workers. Federal Managers Association (FMA) National President Craig Carter commented on several provisions included in the budget request, noting more will come as we continue to review details in the coming days.

"FMA welcomes the President’s budget request for Fiscal Year 2024 and we urge Congress and the Administration to work together to provide agencies with budget certainty and the resources they need on time for FY24,” Carter wrote.

“We acknowledge and appreciate the 5.2 percent pay raise proposed for the federal workforce in 2024 would represent the largest increase since 1980. We also support the pay parity with military service members. However, federal pay has not kept pace with inflation, and retention of feds is at severe risk. The Federal Salary Council reported in 2022 that federal workers earned more than 24 percent less than private sector counterparts, a growing disparity that will only force more of the best and brightest out of federal service. Earlier this year, FMA endorsed the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act (H.R. 536 / S. 124), which would provide for an 8.7 percent pay raise in 2024. We support both proposals, but will continue to advocate for the FAIR Act this year.”

Carter wrote about the need to address salary compression and pay caps for both General Schedule (GS) and Federal Wage System (FWS) employees, and how those issues impact recruitment and retention. Those issues are explored in more detail in another article in this issue of the Washington Report.

“FMA applauds the inclusion of national comprehensive paid family and medical leave in the budget request, providing up to 12 weeks of leave to allow eligible workers to take time off for items covered by the family and medical leave act,” Carter wrote. “FMA strongly supported the successful effort to provide paid parental leave to federal employees and has endorsed legislation to provide comprehensive paid leave to feds. We are encouraged by the support from the White House and we aim to be a partner in providing this benefit.”

Last month, FMA endorsed the Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act (H.R. 856 / S. 274), introduced by Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) and Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI). This legislation would provide paid family and medical leave for feds.

“We recognize the release of the President’s budget proposal is one part of the process and we look forward to taking a closer look at the President’s proposals and priorities in the days and weeks to come,” Carter said. “We also anticipate what is to come from the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. FMA pledges to work with the Biden Administration and both chambers of Congress as they work on FY24 appropriations.”