Why did Trump suspend the salary increase plan for US federal employees?

According to foreign media reports, U.S. President Trump informed congressional leaders on August 30 that he has canceled plans to raise wages for federal employees in January next year because the budgets of federal agencies cannot cope.

According to reports, Trump said in a letter to the leaders of the House and Senate: “We must keep the United States on a path of fiscal sustainability. The budgets of federal agencies cannot support such a plan. Salary increase plan. ”

According to the previous plan, the salaries of employees in various U.S. federal agencies will be increased by 2.1% in January next year. In addition, federal employees' wages will be adjusted appropriately depending on where they work. However, Trump has stated that neither salary payment will be increased at this time.

Trump wrote: "I have decided that salary increases for all federal agencies and regional salary increases will be suspended in 2019."

Trump emphasized that the increase in salary increases will be suspended. Salaries will not make federal agencies less attractive to qualified personnel. He also said the government should focus on recruiting and rewarding federal employees with high-skilled jobs.

Trump pointed out in the letter that the average regional salary increase in 2019 will be 25.7, and the federal government will pay $25 billion for this. But it is unclear whether the regional salary increases that have taken effect will continue to be implemented.

The report pointed out that this will be the first time since 2011 to 2013 that federal employees have not received a salary increase. At that time, the Obama administration froze pay increases for federal employees for three years.

In May, the Trump administration proposed cutting federal employee compensation by $143.5 billion, including significant cuts to retirement funds. That same month, Trump signed three executive orders making it easier to fire civilian employees and imposing new restrictions on union activity. On the 25th of this month, a federal judge invalidated many provisions of these executive orders.

Unlike civilian employees, military salaries will increase by $2.6 next year. The pay increase for U.S. troops is part of a massive $716 billion defense bill signed by Trump earlier this month.