PRIA Logo™
S359119th CongressWALLET

Federal Employee Performance and Accountability Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Senator Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]

Introduced

Summary

Performance-based pay pilot that would test a tiered pay system for selected Executive-branch employees over five years. It would tie pay to agency-specific performance metrics and create rewards and penalties based on meeting those targets.

Show full summary
  • Eligible employees would be those at GS-11 through GS-15 and senior-level positions. Participation would be voluntary and the pilot uses three tiers: Tier 1 can earn incentives, Tier 2 sees no basic pay change, and Tier 3 faces a 15 percent basic pay cut plus required training.
  • The Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) would direct the pilot while agencies set metrics and run evaluations. Each participating agency must enroll between 1 percent and 10 percent of eligible staff, provide training and quarterly feedback, and agency heads may exclude their agency for national security reasons with written justification.
  • Agencies would send annual productivity reports with quantitative and qualitative outcomes to the OMB Director who must review and report to Congress annually. The Comptroller General and the Director would assess the program within one year after it ends, and no new funds are authorized so the pilot must use existing budgets.

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.

New pay tiers for federal employees

If enacted, participating employees would be placed in one of three tiers and could see their basic pay changed starting in year two. Tier 1 (significantly exceeded metrics) would get a 15% increase in basic pay and may receive discretionary bonuses or non-money benefits. Tier 2 (met metrics) would get no basic pay adjustment under the Program. Tier 3 (did not meet metrics) would have basic pay reduced by 15% and must receive training or development. While in the Program, you would be ineligible for certain Title 5 pay adjustments, grade advancements, bonuses, and performance awards.

Five-year federal pay pilot for employees

If enacted, this bill would create a five-year pilot starting 180 days after enactment to test performance-based pay for Executive agency employees. You would be eligible only if you are in GS-11 through GS-15 or a senior-level job above GS-15 and your duties have clear, measurable goals. Each agency would ensure 1%–10% of its eligible employees participate, but an agency head could opt out for national security or public safety with a written justification to OMB. Agencies would set yearly productivity, quality, and timeliness goals and must give introductory training and quarterly feedback.

Oversight and funding rules for pilot

If enacted, participating agencies would send OMB yearly reports on productivity, cost savings, and employee satisfaction and OMB would publish annual assessments to Congress. Within one year after the pilot ends, the Government Accountability Office and OMB would assess overall program results for Congress. The bill would not authorize new money, so OMB, GAO, and agencies must run the pilot using funds already available to them.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]

TN • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 2/3/2025

  • Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE]

    NE • R

    Sponsored 2/3/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
Back to Legislation