Shutdown-Avoiding Spending Package Includes 1.9 Percent Pay Raise for 2019

Congress is poised to override President Trump’s decision last year to freeze federal civilian pay in 2019, according to House leaders. A spending deal between House and Senate appropriators released late Wednesday provided a 1.9 percent across-the-board raise to federal workers this year, the same amount agreed to last year before negotiations broke down over Trump’s demand for $5.7 billion in funding for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Trump’s refusal then to sign onto a short-term continuing resolution triggered a 35-day partial government shutdown.