1. United States
2. Colo.
3. Letter

The proposed cuts to federal employee retirement and compensation undermine the critical government services that Americans rely on. Raising the FERS contribution rate, eliminating the FERS supplement for early retirees, and basing annuity payments on the highest 5 earning years instead of 3 will significantly reduce the take-home pay and retirement income of federal workers. Forcing new hires to choose between "at-will" employment without merit protections or higher FERS contributions is an attack on the nonpartisan civil service system. These cuts will trigger an exodus of skilled federal workers and hamper agencies' ability to recruit top talent, diminishing vital services like Social Security, Medicare, national security, consumer protection, and public safety. Preserving retirement benefits and fair compensation is essential to maintain a capable federal workforce serving all Americans. I urge you to reject any provisions that slash federal retirement and strip civil service protections in the upcoming budget reconciliation.