An across-the-board 2.1% pay increase for federal workers was slated to take effect in January. "I have determined that for 2019, both across the board pay increases and locality pay increases will be set at zero," he wrote. Congress has an opportunity to effectively overrule the President's edict if lawmakers pass a spending bill that includes a federal pay raise. The pay raise matter was the latest in a string of moves that reflect an attempt to rein in spending on federal employees. Trump signed executive orders in May that made it easier to fire federal employees and placed limits on public-sector unions.

Source: CNN August 30, 2018 18:12 UTC