As federal employees weigh the difficult choices of taking an early retirement, opting into the deferred resignation program or trying to hold steady in their jobs, Congress is fueling further confusion as it presses forward with a slew of proposals aimed at chopping federal benefits and civil service protections.
In addition to current employees, many federal retirees are also expressing deep concerns about how the proposals to cut retirement benefits may or may not impact them.
It is possible the proposed federal benefits cuts will end up in the final language of the reconciliation bill. But there is also a possibility that some, or even all, of the federal benefits provisions will be taken out. During the committee markup last week, Oversight Republicans argued the changes are warranted because federal benefits outpace private sector benefits. But Democrats argued reducing the deficit “on our federal workers’ backs” is wholly unfair, especially on top of the federal workforce overhauls already underway.
Not all Republicans, however, agree federal benefits cuts should be included in the reconciliation bill. Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) voted “no” on Oversight’s markup language — making him the only committee Republican to do so. Turner said he believed there was not enough support for the proposed federal benefits cuts as-is, and that it “will have to be changed if it’s going to be included in the ultimate budget reconciliation.”
