Federal Employee Performance and Accountability Act of 2025
Federal Employee Performance and Accountability Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Federal Employee Performance and Accountability Act of 2025 – Summary **What it does:** This bill would create a five-year test program tying pay raises for federal employees to job performance. Under the program, federal agencies would select 1-10% of their mid-to-senior level employees (GS-11 and above) who have measurable job duties to participate. Employees who significantly exceed performance expectations could receive up to a 10% pay raise, those who meet expectations would get no raise, and those who fall below expectations could see a 10% pay cut. Agencies could opt out if the program might threaten national security or public safety. **Who it affects:** The program targets mid-to-senior level federal employees in positions with clear, measurable performance metrics—potentially thousands of workers across government agencies.
It does not apply to lower-level employees or those in jobs where performance is difficult to measure objectively. **Current status:** The bill is currently in committee and has not yet been voted on by Congress. It was introduced by Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY) in the 119th Congress.
CRS Official Summary
Federal Employee Performance and Accountability Act of 2025This bill establishes a pilot program making pay increases for certain federal employees contingent on job performance.Under the bill, each executive agency must identify employees to participate in the five-year pilot program from among employees classified at or above the GS-11 level and holding positions with clearly measurable performance criteria. Each agency must select 1%-10% of these employees to participate in the program. An agency may opt out if participation potentially risks national security or public safety.The bill provides that a participating agencymust increase an employee's pay by up to 10% if the employee significantly exceeded established performance metrics during the preceding year, may not increase the pay of an employee who met established performance metrics during the preceding year, and must reduce by 10% the pay of an employee who rates below expectations for the preceding year.Participating employees are ineligible for annual or locality-based pay increases authorized under current law during the pilot. The bill also requires agencies to establish performance plans and evaluation systems for participating employees. Agencies must also provide training and resources to help participating employees understand and meet performance requirements.Participating agencies must report cost savings, productivity metrics, and other information to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) every year. OMB and the Government Accountability Office must jointly report on the final outcome of the program.
Latest Action
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.