H.R. 200: Federal Freeze Act

This bill bars pay raises for federal employees for one year and requires reductions in the number of employees at each federal agency.

The bill prohibits agencies from increasing the basic pay of any employee for one year after enactment. Also in that first year, the bill prohibits each federal agency from increasing the number of its employees beyond the number employed on the date of the bill's enactment, except that the agency may increase such number when making appointments to positions related to law enforcement, public safety, or national security.

Additionally, the bill requires reductions in force such that within three years of the bill's enactment the number of employees at each agency is 5% lower than it was on the date of the bill's enactment.

Written by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.