2027 Federal Pay Raise: The Proposed Pay Freeze and What Happens Next

This guide to the 2027 federal pay raise was last updated October 19, 2026, and we will update it as decisions land.

If you work for the federal government, you may have seen the word "freeze" in the news. The President has proposed that General Schedule (GS) employees get no across-the-board raise and no locality pay increase in January 2027. That is a big deal for your budget.

But a proposal is not a final decision. Here's what we know, what we don't, and what to do while you wait.

What Is Final and What Is Not

Let's sort this out first.

Already happened:

On August 26, 2026, the President sent Congress the annual "alternative pay plan" letter for January 2027.
On October 14, 2026, the 2027 retiree COLA was announced: 3.6% for CSRS and 2.6% for FERS.

Not final yet:

The proposed freeze on GS base pay and locality pay
The 3.8% increase for certain law enforcement personnel
The proposed military raise of 7% / 6% / 5%

Nothing is final until the President signs the pay executive order. That normally happens in the last two weeks of December.

Background: How the Alternative Pay Plan 2027 Works

By law, a formula (from the Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act, or FEPCA) sets federal raises each year. Without the President's letter, that formula would have produced roughly a 3.1% across-the-board increase. It would also have added an average locality increase of about 20.6%.

Two terms, in plain words:

Across-the-board raise: A percentage added to base pay for all GS employees.
Locality pay: An extra percentage on top of base pay, based on where you work.

Each year, the President can send Congress an "alternative pay plan" that replaces the formula. Presidents of both parties have done this every year since 1994. The 2027 letter proposes zero for both pieces. Base pay and locality rates would stay at 2026 levels.

You can read more in Federal News Network's August 28, 2026 report and at FEDweek. For last year's numbers, see our 2026 Federal Pay Raise Explained article.

Want your exact numbers? The easiest way is the free federal pay raise calculator. It saves you from doing the math by hand.

Federal Pay Freeze 2027: What Stays Flat and What Keeps Moving

"Freeze" sounds like your pay stops completely. It doesn't. Only the general schedule tables and the locality percentages stay flat.

What a freeze does NOT stop

Within-grade (step) increases. These continue. Learn more in our GS step increases guide.
Promotions. A move to a higher grade still raises your pay.
Quality step increases. These still happen.
Special rates. Jobs with special salary rates are not frozen. See special rate vs locality pay to find out which one applies to you.

Law enforcement

The letter tells OPM to use its special salary rate authority to give certain federal law enforcement personnel a 3.8% increase. That authority lets OPM set higher pay for certain jobs. OPM has not said which categories qualify. Check our LEO special salary rates guide for background, and ask your HR office.

Military and retirees

The same letter proposes a tiered military raise of 7% / 6% / 5%, with junior enlisted getting the highest. This is a separate topic, and you can follow it on our pay info page. For official military pay details, see DFAS.

Retiree COLAs are separate from the pay raise. For retirement updates, visit our retirement topic page.

What Happens Next: Can Congress Change the 2027 GS Pay Raise?

Yes, it can. Congress can override a proposed freeze through the appropriations process (the spending bills).

There is precedent:

2019: The administration proposed a freeze. Congress enacted a 1.9% raise in February 2019, paid retroactively.
2011, 2012, and 2013: Three years with no across-the-board raise, under President Obama. Step increases continued.

So both outcomes have happened. We can't tell you which is likelier this time, and we won't guess.

The timeline

December: The President signs the pay executive order.
Late December or early January: OPM posts the 2027 pay tables.
First pay period beginning on or after January 1, 2027: The new rates take effect.

If Congress acts after January, a raise could be paid back to the start of the year, as in 2019. Watch OPM's pay page for official tables.

Practical Examples: Federal Employee Pay 2027 in Real Dollars

These examples use made-up salaries. They show how the math works, not what you will earn.

Example 1: A GS-9 under a freeze

For example, a GS-9 earning $62,000 (an example salary):

Freeze: $62,000 stays $62,000
Paycheck before taxes: $62,000 ÷ 26 pay periods = about $2,385

Example 2: The same GS-9 if Congress acts

Say Congress passed a 1.9% raise, like in 2019. That's only an illustration, not a prediction.

$62,000 × 0.019 = $1,178 more per year
New salary: $63,178
Extra per pay period: $1,178 ÷ 26 = about $45

If the raise came in February and paid back to January, you'd get a few pay periods of back pay. Three pay periods would be about $135.

Example 3: A step increase during a freeze

If your step increase comes due in 2027, you still get it. The tables stay flat, but you move up a step. Your pay still goes up. Check your SF-50 for your date.

Example 4: A law enforcement officer

For example, an employee earning $80,000 (an example salary) in a qualifying category:

$80,000 × 0.038 = $3,040 more per year

That only applies if OPM includes your job category.

Example 5: A retiree

For example, a retiree with a $2,000 monthly payment (an example amount):

CSRS at 3.6%: $72 more per month
FERS at 2.6%: $52 more per month

Run your own scenario with the federal pay raise calculator. It shows your results in seconds.

Common Mistakes and Misconceptions

"The freeze is official." It's a proposal. Nothing is final until the executive order is signed.

"A freeze means no pay increases at all." Steps, promotions, quality step increases, and special rates continue.

"The retiree COLA and the pay raise are the same thing." They aren't. The 3.6% and 2.6% COLAs apply to retirees. They don't change GS pay tables.

"The 3.8% is for everyone in law enforcement." OPM hasn't announced which categories qualify.

"The military raise applies to civilians." The 7% / 6% / 5% proposal is for service members. It doesn't change GS pay.

"Congress will definitely fix it," or "Congress never does." Both are guesses. History shows it has acted before.

Step-by-Step: How to Prepare

Know your grade and step. Not sure? Read what grade and step am I.
Look at your current pay tables. Our GS pay tables tool shows today's rates.
Find your next step increase date. Check your SF-50 or ask HR.
Budget on flat pay. Treat any raise as a bonus, not a given.
Run your numbers. Use the calculator to compare a freeze with other outcomes.
Ask about special rates. If you are in law enforcement or a hard-to-fill job, ask HR about your category.
Watch for updates. Check OPM.gov, FEDweek, and GovExec in December and January.
Check your first January paycheck. Make sure the rates match the new OPM tables.

Bottom Line

The proposed freeze for 2027 is real, but it isn't final. Here's what to remember:

The proposal would keep GS base pay and locality rates at 2026 levels.
Step increases, promotions, quality step increases, and special rates continue.
Congress can change the outcome. It did in 2019.
Watch for the December executive order, then OPM's tables, then your first January 2027 pay period.
The COLA for retirees is already set: 3.6% for CSRS and 2.6% for FERS.

Plan for flat pay, hope for the best, and keep your eyes on the dates. To see your personal results, try the federal pay raise calculator. It's free, and it's the fastest way to get your numbers.