President Biden on March 28 released his 2023 budget proposal that represents his priorities and serves as an opening salvo in annual budget negotiations with Congress.
Here are 6 takeaways from Biden’s budget proposal:
1. A 4.6% pay raise for federal workers
The president proposed a 4.6% pay raise for federal workers in 2023. AFGE applauds the president for the good opening offer. But to bring federal salaries closer to market rates and compensate for the recent surge in inflation, we ask Congress to approve the 5.1% increase under the FAIR Act introduced by Representative Gerry Connolly and Senator Brian Schatz.
2. Significant increases in funding for most agencies
AFGE applauds President Biden for proposing significant increases in discretionary spending for our federal agencies, which have been starved of resources for too long.
The budget, for example, provides $7.1 billion for pay and benefits for Transportation Security Administration officers, an increase of $1.6 billion from the 2021 enacted level.
The Department of Veterans Affairs would receive a 32% increase above the 2021 level. AFGE, however, believes the historic funding increase for the VA should be used to modernize and expand VA facilities, not to shut down VA hospitals and clinics and force veterans to use costly and inferior privatized care, which will be the inevitable result if the VA’s current AIR Commission process moves forward.
3. A staffing boost for most agencies
Most agencies would see staffing increases. The budget provides an increase of 82,309 full-time equivalents (FTEs), a 3.6% increase from the 2022 level. The Environmental Protect Agency, for example, would get a $2.6 billion increase and 1,900 additional FTEs.
Only NASA and the Small Business Administration would get smaller.
4. A focus on empowering the federal workforce
The Biden Administration recognized unions as the voice of workers and has committed to supporting organizing in the workplace.
“The Federal Government must be a model employer to achieve these overarching workforce goals, imbued with high employee engagement and a commitment to respect and support workers’ rights to organize and bargain collectively, including by ensuring that Federal employees have a voice in their workplaces through their unions,” the administration said.
5. A stronger OPM
In contrast to the previous administration’s attempt to eliminate the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the Biden administration is empowering OPM to lead federal human capital management and serve as a central agency in federal human resources. OPM would see its budget go up to $418 million, a $88 million increase compared with the 2021 level.
6. $15/hour minimum wage for federal workers
The budget ensures that all federal workers, including federal firefighters, earn at least $15 per hour. The budget also provides $1.8 billion to increase the size of the federal firefighting workforce.
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