FR 2024-31466

General Summary

Executive Order 14132 is a presidential directive that implements adjustments to the pay rates of a range of federal positions. This decree outlines new salary schedules for a variety of roles, including those on the General Schedule, the Foreign Service, the Veterans Health Administration, and the Senior Executive Service. Additionally, it specifies pay rates for the uniformed services and for administrative law judges. The order mentions adjustments for locality-based comparability payments, which are intended to align federal pay with regional salary differences. The changes are set to take effect starting January 1, 2025, and they supersede a previous order from December 2023.

Significant Issues and Concerns

One of the main concerns is the absence of specific figures or percentages related to the pay adjustments, making it difficult to gauge the financial impact of these changes. Without this information, stakeholders and the general public may find it challenging to assess whether the adjustments are justified or identify areas of potential wasteful expenditure.

Furthermore, the rationale for these pay adjustments is not provided, which could lead to perceptions of favoritism or arbitrary increases. This is particularly relevant for the higher-paying positions within the Executive Schedule and the Senior Executive Service, where transparency is key to maintaining public trust.

The use of the term "alternative level of comparability payments" is another area of concern. It might be unclear to those not familiar with federal pay systems, including some policymakers, without further explanation about what these alternatives might entail.

Moreover, while the document references various schedules attached to the directive, these are not included in the provided text. This omission makes it impossible for stakeholders to verify details on the adjustments, potentially undermining accountability and transparency.

The document also lacks an explanation of how locality-based comparability payments are calculated. This information could be crucial for ensuring that these payments are distributed fairly, especially since they impact the cost of living differences across various regions.

Finally, while the document does supersede a previous executive order, it does not outline what these specific changes entail. Without a comparison to the previous order, it becomes difficult for stakeholders to understand what has been modified and the implications of these adjustments.

Impact on the Public

For the general public, this executive order might seem abstract and disconnected from their day-to-day lives. However, it does have broader implications, particularly for those employed by the federal government or those in communities where federal employment plays a significant role in the local economy. Adjustments to federal pay can influence local real estate, consumer spending, and economic stability in these areas.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

For federal employees, particularly those in lower pay scales, the order could mean a potential increase in earnings, which may help address inflation and rising living costs. Employees working in regions with higher living expenses might benefit from the adjusted locality-based comparability payments.

Conversely, the lack of transparency and unexplained rationale behind these adjustments could raise concerns among taxpayers and federal employees in higher positions over the fairness and necessity of such changes. Those in senior roles may face scrutiny if the public perceives the increases as unjustified, especially without clear, communicated reasons or calculations.

Overall, while the intention behind this order is to ensure that federal pay remains competitive and fair, several transparency issues might hinder its positive reception. Without more details and contextual information, stakeholders might struggle to see the full picture, leading to skepticism and dissatisfaction.