Frequently Asked Questions Implementing Law Enforcement Personnel 2027 Special Pay Rates as Mentioned in the Alternative Pay Plan Announcement

On August 26, 2026, President Trump issued an Alternative Pay Plan under 5 U.S.C. 5303(b) and 5 U.S.C. 5304a that announced to Congress his decision regarding January 2027 pay adjustments to freeze 2027 base and locality rates at 2026 levels for employees under the General Schedule and certain other pay systems. The President has also directed the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to use other special pay authorities to provide a pay increase of 3.8 percent for law enforcement personnel. The following frequently asked questions provide additional information on the law enforcement pay increases. 

How will OPM increase pay for law enforcement personnel, as directed by the President?
OPM will use its special salary rate authority under 5 U.S.C. 5305 and 5 CFR 530, subpart C, to increase pay for law enforcement employees after consulting with affected agencies.  

What are special salary rates?
Special salary rates may be established by OPM to address existing or likely significant recruitment or retention problems for groups or categories of employees under the General Schedule and other pay systems. The recruitment or retention problem may be due to significantly higher non-Federal pay rates; location remoteness; undesirability of the work/working conditions; or any other circumstances OPM considers appropriate. Special rates are set higher than regular locality pay rates and are typically applied to specific geographic areas and/or job categories. Special rates are basic pay for most purposes (e.g., retirement, overtime pay and other premium pay, and certain incentives computed as a percentage of basic pay).   

Why are law enforcement personnel receiving special salary rates?
Law enforcement personnel are critical to securing the border, enforcing Federal law, protecting our country, and keeping American citizens safe. Without special salary rates, the Government may find it difficult to recruit and retain personnel in these positions. 

Which law enforcement positions will be covered?
OPM will consult with affected agencies to identify the law enforcement positions covered by the 2027 special rates. Unlike the 2026 law enforcement special rates, which applied to specified categories of front-line law enforcement personnel, the President has directed a broader approach for 2027. OPM will announce final agency and occupational coverage when the 2027 special rate tables are issued later this year. 

When will the new pay tables be available?
OPM anticipates releasing new special rate tables by the end of the calendar year after consulting with agencies on coverage and approving the special rates with a tentative effective date of January 10, 2027.  

Will all covered law enforcement personnel receive the full increase outlined in the President’s Alternative Pay Plan?
Special salary rates are subject to salary caps required by 5 U.S.C. 5305, establishing level IV of the Executive Schedule ($197,200) as the maximum payable rate for special rates, which will reduce the increase in some limited circumstances. 

What will happen to employees covered by the 2026 law enforcement special rate tables?
Employees covered by the special rate tables OPM established for 2026 will continue to be covered in 2027. OPM intends to apply a 3.8-percent total increase to those, with a tentative effective date of January 10, 2027. Employees at the salary cap described above will not receive an increase, and employees near the cap may receive an increase of less than 3.8 percent. 

What other flexibilities are available to agencies to address recruitment or retention difficulties for other positions?
Agencies have discretionary authority with appropriate funding to use a variety of pay and leave flexibilities to address significant recruitment and retention problems for individual or groups of positions.