Federal Correctional Officer Paycheck Protection Act of 2026
Summary
The Federal Correctional Officer Paycheck Protection Act of 2026 aims to improve the recruitment and retention of Federal correctional officers by amending Title 5 of the United States Code. It introduces special base rates of pay for these officers, increasing their salaries by 35 percent, and addresses wage rates for certain prevailing rate employees within the Bureau of Prisons. The Act includes a sunset provision after five years, subject to review by the Inspector General of the Department of Justice regarding the reduction of augmentation and excessive overtime.
Expected Effects
The Act will likely result in increased compensation for Federal correctional officers, potentially improving morale and reducing staff shortages. The review process after five years will determine whether the pay increases have effectively addressed staffing issues and reduced reliance on non-custodial staff and excessive overtime. If the Inspector General determines that measurable progress has been made, the pay increases will continue.
Potential Benefits
- Increased compensation for Federal correctional officers.
- Improved recruitment and retention of correctional officers.
- Potential reduction in the use of non-custodial employees for custodial duties (augmentation).
- Possible decrease in excessive mandatory overtime for correctional officers.
- Enhanced institutional safety due to better staffing levels.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- Increased government spending on correctional officer salaries.
- Potential for the wage increases to expire after five years if the Inspector General's review is unfavorable.
- Possible inflationary pressure on other government salaries.
- The increased wage rate of an employee may not increase to a rate that would produce an annualized rate in excess of the annual rate for level IV of the Executive Schedule.
- No guarantee that the pay increase will fully resolve staffing issues or improve institutional safety.
Most Disadvantaged Areas:
Constitutional Alignment
The Act appears to align with the Constitution's general welfare clause (Preamble), as it aims to improve the working conditions and staffing levels within federal correctional facilities, potentially leading to safer and more secure institutions. Congress has the power to set the compensation for federal employees under Article I, Section 8, which grants it the power to provide for the general Welfare of the United States. The Act does not appear to infringe upon any specific constitutional rights or limitations.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).