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15% Raise for TSA Career Employees

Full Title:
Original Legislation to Give TSA Employees a Raise

Summary#

This bill would give most career employees at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) a 15% raise to their basic pay. It also raises every TSA pay band in the TSA Core Compensation System by 15%. The goal appears to be to quickly increase TSA employee pay.

Key changes:

  • Increases the basic pay of each TSA “career employee” by 15%.
  • Increases each TSA pay band under the TSA Core Compensation System by 15%.
  • Takes effect starting the first pay period that begins on or after the date the bill becomes law.
  • Excludes TSA senior executives, career appointees, and senior career employees from the individual pay raise (as defined in federal law).
  • Does not change job duties, hiring rules, or benefits.

What it means for you#

  • TSA career employees (front-line agents and officers)

    • Your basic pay would rise by 15%, starting the first pay period after the bill becomes law.
    • The minimum and maximum of your pay band would also move up by 15%, which could affect future promotions and pay caps.
    • The bill does not say anything about locality pay, overtime, or bonuses, so how those interact with the raise is unclear.

  • TSA senior executives, career appointees, and senior career employees

    • You are not included in the 15% individual raise under the bill’s definition.
    • The bill raises TSA pay bands generally, but it does not specify whether your positions are within the “Core Compensation System.”

  • TSA non-career staff and contractors

    • The raise applies only to “career employees.” If you are a contractor or not a career employee, this bill would not change your pay.

  • Job seekers applying to TSA

    • Entry pay would likely be about 15% higher because pay bands increase.

  • General public and air travelers

    • This is mainly an internal pay change. There is no direct change to screening rules or airport procedures.

Expenses#

The bill would likely increase TSA payroll spending; no official cost estimate is provided.

  • No publicly available information.
  • The bill does not include new funding. TSA would likely need additional appropriations or to shift existing funds to cover higher salaries.
  • No new fees, fines, or offsets are specified.

Proponents' View#

  • The bill appears intended to quickly raise pay for most TSA career employees.
  • Supporters may argue this could help retain experienced staff and reduce turnover by making pay more competitive.
  • A flat 15% increase is simple and fast to implement, which could speed relief to employees.
  • Raising both individual pay and the pay bands could improve long-term pay growth and promotion paths.

Opponents' View#

  • One concern is cost: paying 15% more in base pay across most TSA career positions would significantly increase TSA spending without identified funding.
  • The bill does not explain how the raise interacts with locality pay, overtime, premiums, or bonuses, which may create confusion or uneven results.
  • A uniform national increase may not reflect different labor markets or cost-of-living differences.
  • Excluding senior executives and certain senior career employees might create pay compression (smaller gaps between staff and supervisors), which could affect management structure.
  • It is unclear how the pay band increase applies to positions outside the TSA Core Compensation System, if any.