Federal Correctional Officer Paycheck Protection Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced
Summary
Raises pay for federal correctional officers by 35% to a new special base rate. The bill would create a special base-rate system for Bureau of Prisons correctional officers, extend a 35% wage boost to certain prevailing-rate staff, and attach a five-year sunset with an Inspector General review.
Show full summary
- Federal correctional officers: Eligible officers at the Bureau of Prisons would receive a special base rate set 35% above their applicable General Schedule or law enforcement officer base. That pay would count as basic pay for benefits and pay calculations and would be capped at Executive Schedule Level V.
- Prevailing-rate BOP staff: Certain Federal Wage System employees who do custody or routine inmate contact and are at grade 9 or below would get a 35% wage increase that becomes basic pay. That increase may not raise pay above Executive Schedule Level IV.
- Oversight and sunset: The special pay authority would expire after five years unless the Department of Justice Inspector General reports measurable reductions in augmentation and excessive mandatory overtime and positive effects on recruitment, retention, or institutional safety, in which case the authority continues.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Higher pay for federal correctional officers
If enacted, Bureau of Prisons correctional officers would get a special base pay 35% higher than their applicable General Schedule or LEO base pay. Covered Federal Wage System employees (grade 9 and below) would also get a 35% wage increase. The increases would be rounded to the nearest dollar, would be treated as basic pay for retirement, overtime, and other pay calculations, and would be adjusted when underlying GS or LEO rates change. These raises could not push pay above Executive Schedule Level V for GS/LEO rates or above the Level IV annualized limit for wage employees.
Five-year sunset for correctional pay
If enacted, the new pay authorities would automatically end five years after enactment. The Department of Justice Inspector General would review and report to Congress not later than 180 days before that date. The IG must assess whether the Bureau reduced use of non‑custodial staff for custody work and reduced excessive mandatory overtime, and must report on recruitment, retention, and institutional safety. If the IG finds measurable progress cutting augmentation and overtime, the five‑year sunset would not take effect and the pay authorities would continue.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
NH • D
Cosponsors
Sen. McCormick, David [R-PA]
PA • R
Sponsored 1/13/2026
Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]
NH • D
Sponsored 1/28/2026
Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]
TN • R
Sponsored 1/28/2026
Sen. Fetterman, John [D-PA]
PA • D
Sponsored 2/11/2026
Shelley Capito
WV • R
Sponsored 2/11/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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