Senate considering huge increase in FERS contribution

[Anonymous]

From Politico:
“Lawmakers are looking to hike federal employees’ retirement contributions to 15.6 percent of their salary — compared with the 9.4 percent required in the initial version of the bill — while carving out an exemption for members of Congress and their staff, according to draft reconciliation text from the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee that was obtained by POLITICO.”

I know that there was talk of raising rates for future hires, but this article does not limit it to them. Hopefully it was just unclear writing.

[Anonymous]

Increase would only apply to new hires.

[Anonymous]

I wish there was a way to opt out of FERS. I’m at the 4.8% mandatory contribution and I’d rather invest that money myself. My pension is not going to be much after 20 years of work.

I doubt they’ll be able to find anyone willing to work for the government if they do this.

[Anonymous]

These people are insane

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish there was a way to opt out of FERS. I’m at the 4.8% mandatory contribution and I’d rather invest that money myself. My pension is not going to be much after 20 years of work.

I doubt they’ll be able to find anyone willing to work for the government if they do this.

Isn't it 4.4% ?

[Anonymous]

That would mean many people couldn’t put anything into TSP so they would only have FERS. crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From Politico:
“Lawmakers are looking to hike federal employees’ retirement contributions to 15.6 percent of their salary — compared with the 9.4 percent required in the initial version of the bill — while carving out an exemption for members of Congress and their staff, according to draft reconciliation text from the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee that was obtained by POLITICO.”

I know that there was talk of raising rates for future hires, but this article does not limit it to them. Hopefully it was just unclear writing.

That future pension is worthless. You put all that money into the system only to have a heart attack and die at 64 years of age. The pensioner gets nothing, and the money put in to the FERS system is non-refundable to the estate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From Politico:
“Lawmakers are looking to hike federal employees’ retirement contributions to 15.6 percent of their salary — compared with the 9.4 percent required in the initial version of the bill — while carving out an exemption for members of Congress and their staff, according to draft reconciliation text from the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee that was obtained by POLITICO.”

I know that there was talk of raising rates for future hires, but this article does not limit it to them. Hopefully it was just unclear writing.

That future pension is worthless. You put all that money into the system only to have a heart attack and die at 64 years of age. The pensioner gets nothing, and the money put in to the FERS system is non-refundable to the estate.

Doesn't your surviving spouse get at least some of the benefits?

[Anonymous]

there is nothing in the final senate bill text about FERS contributions, relax

[Anonymous]

“while carving out an exemption for members of Congress and their staff”

What a bunch of scumbags

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From Politico:
“Lawmakers are looking to hike federal employees’ retirement contributions to 15.6 percent of their salary — compared with the 9.4 percent required in the initial version of the bill — while carving out an exemption for members of Congress and their staff, according to draft reconciliation text from the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee that was obtained by POLITICO.”

I know that there was talk of raising rates for future hires, but this article does not limit it to them. Hopefully it was just unclear writing.

Can you point to it in the bill, OP? I’m not seeing it but it’s a big bill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From Politico:
“Lawmakers are looking to hike federal employees’ retirement contributions to 15.6 percent of their salary — compared with the 9.4 percent required in the initial version of the bill — while carving out an exemption for members of Congress and their staff, according to draft reconciliation text from the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee that was obtained by POLITICO.”

I know that there was talk of raising rates for future hires, but this article does not limit it to them. Hopefully it was just unclear writing.

Can you point to it in the bill, OP? I’m not seeing it but it’s a big bill.

It did not make it into the bill

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From Politico:
“Lawmakers are looking to hike federal employees’ retirement contributions to 15.6 percent of their salary — compared with the 9.4 percent required in the initial version of the bill — while carving out an exemption for members of Congress and their staff, according to draft reconciliation text from the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee that was obtained by POLITICO.”

I know that there was talk of raising rates for future hires, but this article does not limit it to them. Hopefully it was just unclear writing.

That future pension is worthless. You put all that money into the system only to have a heart attack and die at 64 years of age. The pensioner gets nothing, and the money put in to the FERS system is non-refundable to the estate.

Doesn't your surviving spouse get at least some of the benefits?

Yes. PP is incorrect.
https://www.opm.gov/retirement-center/fers-information/survivors/#url=AfterFERS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From Politico:
“Lawmakers are looking to hike federal employees’ retirement contributions to 15.6 percent of their salary — compared with the 9.4 percent required in the initial version of the bill — while carving out an exemption for members of Congress and their staff, according to draft reconciliation text from the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee that was obtained by POLITICO.”

I know that there was talk of raising rates for future hires, but this article does not limit it to them. Hopefully it was just unclear writing.

That future pension is worthless. You put all that money into the system only to have a heart attack and die at 64 years of age. The pensioner gets nothing, and the money put in to the FERS system is non-refundable to the estate.

The flipside is that you’re nasty ex partner who was married to you can come after your TSP but the FERS pension is safe. Looking back, my brother wishes he had had a pension rather than savings. She cleaned him all out.

[Anonymous]

Politico more recently reported that the retirement provisions were stripped out:

https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/06/28/congress/senate-gop-removes-pension-overhaul-from-megabill-00430853