Proposal To Lower the Federal Compensation Comparability Standard Has Not Been Substantiated

GAO was asked to analyze the President's pay reform proposal to: (1) revise the comparability standard to allow for adjusting both pay and benefits to achieve total compensation comparability between Federal and non-Federal employees performing the same levels of work; (2) set Federal compensation levels at 94 percent of non-Federal levels; (3) permit the inclusion of State and local governments in compensation surveys; and (4) allow for locality pay for some Federal white-collar employees. GAO was specifically asked to analyze the proposal to set Federal compensation rates at 94 percent of what non-Federal employers provide in pay and benefits for the same levels of work.