CONGRESS/GOVERNMENT/SPENDING/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “President Donald Trump told lawmakers on Thursday [8-30-18] he wants to scrap a pay raise for civilian federal workers, saying the nation’s budget couldn’t support it. In a letter to House and Senate leaders, Trump described the pay increase as ‘inappropriate’…An across-the-board 2.1% pay increase for federal workers was slated to take effect in January. In addition, a yearly adjustment of paychecks based on the region of the country where a worker is posted — the ‘locality pay increase” — was due to take effect. Trump said both increases should no longer happen…Congress has an opportunity to effectively overrule the President’s edict if lawmakers pass a spending bill that includes a federal pay raise. The Senate passed a bill this summer that included a 1.9% raise for federal workers. The House’s version did not address federal pay. Senate and House negotiators will negotiate a final measure in the coming weeks. Trump’s 2019 budget proposal, released earlier this year, included a pay freeze for civilian federal workers. It’s not clear if Trump would approve a budget that includes the pay increase; the White House has not issued a formal veto threat of the Senate’s bill.”
–Kevin Liptak, “Trump cancels pay raises for federal employees,” CNN Politics, CNN.com, August 31, 2018 2:05 am