1. United States
2. Md.
3. Letter

I’m writing as your constituent to urge you to oppose the amended version of H.Con.Res.14 and reject any budget resolution that targets federal employee entitlements. The Senate’s recent passage of an amended H.Con.Res.14 retains instructions for the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to cut at least $50 billion in mandatory spending. Since the committee’s jurisdiction primarily covers federal retirement and health benefits, these cuts will almost certainly gut earned benefits for current and retired federal workers. The House Republican budget resolution passed on February 25 (217-215) outlines $4.5 trillion in tax cuts alongside $2 trillion in spending cuts, including $50 billion aimed squarely at the earned retirement and health benefits of middle-class public servants. These proposals include: • Shifting FEHB costs to retirees by moving to a flat voucher system. • Increasing FERS contributions from 0.8% to 4.4% without added benefits. • Ending FERS annuity supplements before age 62. • Basing annuities on a “High-5” instead of the current “High-3.” These harmful changes break the government’s promise to its workforce. Federal employees have spent their careers serving the public under the assumption that their retirement and health care benefits were secure. Reneging on that promise now would reduce take-home pay, hurt recruitment and retention, and undermine the merit-based civil service. As NARFE President Bill Shackelford warned, piling benefit cuts onto a workforce already strained by hiring freezes and arbitrary reductions in force is unjust and deeply damaging to public service. I strongly urge you to reject this budget blueprint and any subsequent reconciliation bill that would erode federal benefits. Please stand up for federal workers, retirees, and the integrity of public service.