Pay Freeze for Certain Senior Political Officials during Lapse in Appropriations

Friday, January 4, 2019 CPM 2019-01 MEMORANDUM FOR: HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES FROM: MARGARET M. WEICHERT, ACTING DIRECTOR Subject: Pay Freeze for Certain Senior Political Officials during Lapse in Appropriations Section 738 of division E of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public Law 115-141), contained a provision that continued the freeze on the payable rates of pay for certain senior political officials. Congress has not yet acted as to whether the provision will continue for 2019, but may still do so. In the current absence of Congressional guidance the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) believes it would be prudent for agencies to continue to pay these senior political officials at the frozen rate until appropriations legislation is enacted that would clarify the status of the freeze. Following Congressional action to provide clarity on this matter, the OPM will put forward new guidance conforming fully to the Congressional action, including any necessary adjustments. This memo supersedes the guidance OPM issued on this topic in CPM 2018-23 on December 28, 2018. In the meantime, the OPM guidance on the 2018 pay freeze for certain senior political officials is generally applicable in applying the pay freeze in 2019. See CPM 2018-08 at https://chcoc.gov/content/continued-pay-freeze-certain-senior-political-officials-2. Questions Agency headquarters-level human resources offices may contact OPM at pay-leavepolicy@opm.gov. Employees should contact their agency human resources offices for assistance. cc: Chief Human Capital Officers (CHCOs), Deputy CHCOs, and Human Resources Directors