lobbying against this legislation and continues to closely monitoring its movement. Stay
tuned for updates.
TRUMP ENDS FEDERAL EMPLOYEE HIRING FREEZE
On April 12, the Trump Administration announced that it is ending the federal hiring
freeze. As you know, on January 23, President Trump issued an executive order
instituting a hiring free ze for federal civilian employees. The order permitted exceptions
to the freeze in very limited circumstances. NATCA worked hard to make the case with
the Administration and members of Congress that NATCA members' positions should be
exempt from the freeze . For more information, please see the notice sent out from
NATCA President Paul Rinaldi and EVP Trish Gilbert regarding the freeze and its impact
on NA TCA.
Future Impact: The end of the hiring freeze does not mean that the cuts are over for
federal agencies. The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a
memo that announced the end of the hiring freeze, but lays the foundation for addi tional
cuts to the federal workforce. The memo directs agencies to begin developing "reform
plans" that reflect the Administration's budget proposal. As you know, the White House
FY 18 budget proposes numerous cuts to federal agencies, if enacted.
1.9% P A Y RAISE FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES
Civilian federal employees would receive an across - the - board 1.9 percent pay raise next
year under a proposal from President Trump. The increase would be slightly less than
the 2.1 percent raise feds received in 2017, though i t would eclipse the 1.6 percent pay
bump President Obama initially proposed for this year. Congress can still interfere with
the President's proposal, which he is expected to formalize in May when he releases a
more detailed version of his fiscal 2018 budg et. Generally, lawmakers have allowed the
president's suggestion to stand. Stay tuned for updates.
WHITE HOUSE C OMMENTS ON INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN
DJ Gribbin, President Trump ' s special assistant for infrastructure policy, has
acknowledged that the timing of an infrastructure package is still yet to be determined. In
the past few months, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao has said that an
infrastructure policy would be produced later this year. President Trump would like the
proposal to provide a trillion do llars, economic growth, increased productivity, and jobs.
Gribbin has also said that the Administration plans on taking a broad view of
infrastructure that could possibly include air traffic control reform. GA staff will closely
monitor any movement on inf rastructure related proposals.
LEGISLATIVE WATCHLIST
In addition to executive actions from President Trump, Congress is already working to
advance anti - federal employee bills. With Republicans officially in control of the House,
Senate, and White House, the number of proposals that would negatively impact federal
employees will rise. GA staff has been and will continue preparing to fight these
proposals.
NATCA IN WASHINGTON
NATCA is gearing up for this year's annual lobby week, "NATCA in Washington (NiW )."
This year NATCAvists will be in D.C. May 21 through May 24. During the conference,
members will travel to Capitol Hill to discuss our issues with Members of Congress and
hear from a number of speakers on important topics affecting our membership, inclu ding
