Correctional Officer Paycheck Protection Act

Full Title:
Federal Correctional Officer Paycheck Protection Act of 2026

Summary#

This bill creates a special base pay rate for certain Bureau of Prisons correctional officers. It defines who counts as a "Federal correctional officer" based on duties such as custody, control, supervision of inmates, or routine direct inmate contact. The special base rate replaces the officer's normal General Schedule (GS) base rate or Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) special base rate. The special rate is calculated by increasing the applicable GS base rate or LEO special base rate by 35 percent, rounded to the nearest dollar, but it may not exceed the annual rate for level V of the Executive Schedule. For some prevailing rate (wage system) workers in the Bureau of Prisons whose positions are grade 9 or lower and meet the duty test, the Attorney General must increase wage rates by 35 percent, with a cap that prevents exceeding the annual rate for level IV of the Executive Schedule. The bill says the special base rate counts as "basic pay for all purposes" and lists specific statutory sections to which that applies. The pay authority created by the bill would end 5 years after enactment unless the Department of Justice Inspector General reviews and reports that the Bureau of Prisons has made measurable progress reducing use of non-custodial staff to perform officer duties (augmentation) and reducing excessive mandatory overtime; if the Inspector General so determines, the pay authority would continue.

What it means for you#

  • Who is affected: Employees of the Bureau of Prisons whose primary duties involve custody, control, or supervision of inmates, or who routinely have direct inmate contact. Some supervisors and other positions may qualify if their duties meet the written classification tests described in the bill.
  • Pay change: Eligible employees have their GS base rate or LEO special base rate increased by 35 percent (rounded), subject to the Executive Schedule caps described above. For certain Federal Wage System employees at grade 9 or below, the Attorney General must raise wage rates by 35 percent with a separate cap.
  • Pay treatment: The bill designates this special base rate as basic pay for the purposes listed in the bill (for example, sections 5304, 5304a, 5595; subchapter V of chapter 55; chapters 83 and 84), meaning the special rate is used for the legal pay and benefit calculations the bill names.
  • Duration and review: The authority normally sunsets after 5 years. The Department of Justice Inspector General must review the Bureau of Prisons and report to Congress at least 180 days before expiration on whether the Bureau has reduced augmentation and excessive mandatory overtime. If the Inspector General finds measurable progress, the pay authority continues instead of expiring.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on expected budgetary costs or savings is included in the bill text or metadata provided.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.