Trump is blocking federal workers from raises they were promised

Trump sure doesn’t seem to care about his federal workers.

When Congress ended the Trump shutdown in February, they included provisions to provide federal workers with a 1.9 percent pay raise, retroactive to Jan. 1 of this year, overriding a pay freeze  Trump had issued during the shutdown.

But there’s a catch: The pay raise can’t go into effect until Trump issues an executive order for the pay raise legislated by Congress and his Office of Personnel Management must publish new pay scales, according to Government Executive. And Trump, apparently, can’t bring himself to issue the order.

So, despite the fact that Trump signed the legislation to reopen the government more than three weeks ago, the pay raises have still not gone into effect.

The glacial pace of the administration to enact the will of Congress does not sit well with some members.

A group of House members sent a letter to Office of Management and Budget Acting Director Russel Vought and OPM Director Margaret Weichert calling the delay “unacceptable.” The members reminded Trump officials that federal workers recently endured the 35-day Trump shutdown where many faced significant financial hardship.

Trump initiated the shutdown after throwing a tantrum because Congress would not hand over $5.7 billion for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Trump held the paychecks of federal workers hostage in an attempt to bend Congress to his will, a ploy which failed spectacularly.

A humiliated Trump eventually caved to congressional demands to reopen the government and provide federal workers with both back pay and a raise in 2019.

The letter demands that the Trump officials provide an update as to when federal workers can expect their pay raise. Any continued delay simply shows Trump’s disdain toward the hardworking women and men who make up the federal workforce.

Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.