Cola for gs employees 2026
Executive summary
Federal civilian pay for 2026 is unsettled in public reporting: several outlets report President Trump submitted an Alternative Pay Plan proposing a 1% across‑the‑board GS raise and a 3.8% boost for some law‑enforcement positions while many White House and OMB budget materials and analysts showed proposals to freeze general pay or leave locality pay unchanged (examples: 1% raise reported by FedSmith and STWServe; freeze or 0% in some budget summaries) [1] [2] [3]. Locality pay appears widely reported as frozen at 2025 levels in those plans, meaning paychecks will reflect a modest base increase but not higher locality adjustments [1] [2].
1. What the competing plans say: 1% raise vs. freeze
Reporting shows two competing narratives for 2026 federal GS pay. Industry outlets and union commentators cite an “alternative” presidential plan authorizing a 1% across‑the‑board GS increase and larger increases for some law‑enforcement personnel (3.8% or special rates) — FedSmith and STWServe published estimated tables and examples using a 1% base raise [1] [2]. Other analyses and White House/OMB budget summaries referenced in trade outlets describe a proposed administration budget that includes no general raise for civilian federal employees (a 0% or freeze) and recommends locality pay remain at 2025 levels [3] [4]. The discrepancy matters because Congress can adopt, reject or modify any executive proposal (available sources do not mention whether Congress has finalized the decision).
2. Locality pay: frozen, but reclassifications possible
Multiple reports emphasize that while some pay proposals would add a small base increase, locality pay increases were largely frozen at 2025 percentages — meaning employees in high‑cost metro areas may not see larger locality percentages even if private‑sector wages moved up [1] [2]. FedManager and other explainers note the technical complexity: locality is derived from BLS compensation surveys and OPM calculations, so some employees could move into a higher‑paying locality area if OPM reclassifies zones — but most areas would remain at 2025 locality rates under the reported plans [5] [6].
3. How much does 1% actually move paychecks?
Outlets using the 1% figure give concrete illustrations: a GS‑13 at $90,000 would receive about $900 more annually (roughly $75/month before taxes), and a $60,000 salary would rise to about $60,600 — modest increases that do not offset inflationary pressure for many workers [2] [7]. Several analysts and union representatives frame a 0–1% range as effectively a real‑terms pay cut if inflation runs above that level [7] [8].
4. Special‑rate and law‑enforcement pay differences
Sources consistently report that law‑enforcement and certain “special rate” occupations are being treated differently: the alternative plan cited a higher raise (3.8%) or expanded special rates for recruitment/retention roles, aligned with military increases in some documents [1] [2]. OPM and Federal Salary Council materials discuss how special rates and locality interplay with base pay, but available sources do not provide a final list of which job titles will receive special increases for 2026 [9].
5. Retirement COLA and interaction with active pay
While active GS pay debates focus on base/locality moves, retiree COLAs for 2026 have been reported at 2.8% for Social Security and many CSRS annuitants — with FERS annuitants sometimes getting a lower “diet” COLA — a separate calculation that affects retirees more than active pay [10] [11]. Several pieces note that COLA and federal pay are distinct processes, and a modest active‑duty raise does not alter retiree COLA outcomes [12].
6. Where the decision stands and what to watch
Available reporting shows the executive branch proposed options (1% alternative plan vs. 0% in budget documents) and that final authority rests with Congress or a later executive action; multiple outlets caution that the official OPM pay tables for 2026 had not been finalized at time of reporting [13] [14]. Watch OPM releases and congressional appropriations action; trade sites that published estimated pay tables (FedSmith, FederalPay) will update once OPM posts official 2026 tables [1] [13].
Limitations: this briefing uses only the supplied reporting and federal advisory summaries; available sources do not state a final, legally binding 2026 GS pay table approved by Congress (available sources do not mention a completed congressional or executive order finalizing the pay tables).