House Passes FY23 Minibus, Silently Endorses 4.6% Pay Raise for Federal Employees
In advance of the August recess, the House of Representatives passed a massive spending package for fiscal year (FY) 2023 by a largely party-line vote of 220 to 207. Assuming this measure holds, federal employees will receive an average pay increase of 4.6 percent next year.
Coined a “minibus” package, it contains six spending bills pertaining to Transportation, Housing and Urban Development; Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration; Energy and Water Development; Financial Services and General Government; Interior and Environment; and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs.
Among the proposed spending increases are 18 percent for the Department of the Interior, the Department of Energy, and related agencies, as well as double-digit increases for military construction. The House also approved a 17 percent increase in 2023 funding for financial services and general government, including funding for election security grants, and measures aimed at reforming the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to work towards an equitable tax system.
As for a pay increase for federal employees, the House has effectively endorsed President Joe Biden's plan in the White House's FY 2023 proposed budget. FEDmanager previously reported the 4.6 percent average pay raise would mark the largest increase for the civilian federal workforce in more than two decades. However, some lawmakers and federal employee groups have advocated for an even larger raise of 5.1 percent, pointing to the minimal 2021 and rising inflation.
The House must pass six more funding bills in the coming weeks, however disagreements over immigration and criminal justice policies and defense spending could hinder their efforts.
Meanwhile, the Senate's 12 funding bills are far behind schedule, showing little progress. While Senate appropriators are expected to unveil more details on their 2023 spending plans before recess, lawmakers have doubts about its completion by the end of FY 2022 on September 30. Senate appropriations leaders have already said they expect continuing resolutions to be necessary.
