NARFE Applauds Proposed Federal Pay Raise, Support for IT Modernization at OPM
Alexandria, Va. – In response to the Biden administration’s fiscal year 2022 federal spending proposal, NARFE National President Ken Thomas issued the following statement:
“President Joseph R. Biden’s proposed 2022 spending plan delivers welcome news for federal employees and annuitants, with the inclusion of a market-value pay increase as well as funding for the Office of Personnel Management that will drive IT modernization and increased efficiency in human capital management.
Proposed Pay Increase a Measure of Respect
“It is gratifying to hear that the Biden administration is returning to standard practice with its proposal of a 2.7 percent average pay increase across the civil service, which is on par with private-sector wage hikes and his proposed pay raise for the military. With this raise, the administration is demonstrating respect for hard-working civil servants and the jobs they do, and we urge Congress to follow suit.
“In the past year, federal employees rededicated themselves to performing at high levels while weathering a global pandemic; countless were on the front lines, risking their health to serve the American people. And while many Feds could work remotely, they often did so while struggling to care for their families, like so many Americans. The 1 percent increase federal employees were provided in 2021 was disproportionate to the essential work they carry out on behalf of the American people.
“While the 2.7 percent proposed increase can’t make up for past furloughs, pay freezes and benefit cuts, it will help narrow the gap between public- and private-sector pay, key to government recruitment and retention and continuation of government services.
Focus on IT Modernization and Human Capital Management Would Answer Critical Needs
“We are heartened by the budget’s pronouncement that the ‘Federal workforce is composed of dedicated public servants who work to improve the lives of the American people.’ Further, we are encouraged that the budget recognizes that for the workforce to serve the American people effectively, we must modernize both IT and human capital management practices, such as those needed to hire the next generation of civil servants. We agree that it is ‘imperative that the Federal Government have the tools and human resources personnel to evolve and compete with the overall labor market’ to do so.
“President Biden’s request to establish an OPM Information Technology Working Capital Fund is a step in the right direction. But Congress should put sufficient guardrails on its appropriations to ensure transparent and effective use of any new money.
“Federal human capital management must be job one for OPM, so it is crucial that the agency receive sufficient funding to address IT challenges and undertake modernization efforts to enable improvement.
“A report released in March by the National Academy of Public Administration outlined just how dire the situation is: OPM’s outdated IT infrastructure has undergone multiple rounds of modernization attempts, and its IT leadership has been plagued by turnover and vacancies. However, the report also highlighted recent progress on IT modernization. With the prospect of dedicated IT funding, it’s more important than ever for OPM to stay on the right path.
“The administration’s investment in IT must be key to any effort to encourage innovation at OPM and improve services for federal employees and annuitants: Modernizing its IT systems would not only improve the functioning of OPM but could reduce the time and cost of managing human capital for federal agencies, enabling them to focus more efforts on recruiting and retaining a qualified workforce and developing federal workers’ talents.”
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As the only organization solely dedicated to the general welfare of all federal workers and retirees, NARFE delivers valuable guidance, timely resources and powerful advocacy. For 100 years, NARFE has been a trusted source of knowledge for the federal community, Capitol Hill, the executive branch and the media.
CONTACT:
Jenn Rafael
NARFE Director of Communications and Marketing
jrafael@narfe.org | (571) 483-1270
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