House and Senate Democrats have introduced companion bills calling for a 4.1% across-the-board pay raise for federal employees in 2027, signaling renewed congressional pressure for a higher annual adjustment as agencies compete for talent and retention.
- Legislation: House bill H.R. 7480 and Senate bill S. 3823 would provide a 4.1% federal civilian pay increase in calendar year 2027, according to FEDweek.
- Sponsors: The measures were introduced by Democratic lawmakers in both chambers; FEDweek described the bills as “companion” proposals.
- Scope: The proposal targets federal employee pay broadly, including the General Schedule (GS) framework that combines base pay and locality pay.
- Status: Introduction of the bills does not guarantee enactment. Any raise would still depend on the broader legislative process and/or the annual pay-setting actions that ultimately determine federal pay adjustments, FEDweek reported.
- Why it matters: The bills are intended to demonstrate support for a higher raise than what might otherwise be proposed through the normal budget and pay-setting cycle, per FEDweek.
Brief context: Federal civilian pay raises are typically set through a combination of statute and annual decisions, with Congress sometimes weighing in through targeted pay legislation. While a bill can propose a specific percentage for a future year, final outcomes often hinge on whether the measure advances through committees, passes both chambers, and is signed into law—or whether pay is set through other established mechanisms. FEDweek noted that the introduction of H.R. 7480 and S. 3823 reflects congressional interest in a 2027 increase but leaves open the question of what will ultimately be adopted.
For federal employees, the immediate impact is informational rather than financial: the bills provide an early marker for what some lawmakers want the 2027 raise to be, but they do not change current-year pay tables. Employees tracking long-range compensation planning may want to monitor whether the proposals gain co-sponsors or move in either chamber. For reference pay tables and locality structures used today, employees can consult FedInfo’s pay resources (https://fedinfo.org).
Source: FEDweek, “Hill Democrats Back 4.1 Percent 2027 Federal Employee Raise” (https://www.fedweek.com/fedweek/hill-democrats-back-4-1-percent-2027-federal-employee-raise/)