OPM what's what — 2026-11-06

Request for Information: Special Rates to Achieve January 2027 Pay Adjustments for Certain Law Enforcement Personnel — Under the President's alternative pay plan, GS base pay and locality rates stay at 2026 levels in 2027, but OPM will use special salary rate authority to raise pay 3.8% for about 140,000 law enforcement employees already on Special Rate Tables L001–L140, effective January 10, 2027. OPM will also automatically extend these special rates to more law enforcement categories, giving them about a 6.7% increase, unless an agency opts out by November 25, 2026.

• GS base pay and locality pay frozen at 2026 levels for 2027 (in the summary). Under the President's alternative plan, GS and other statutory base pay rates and locality percentages stay at 2026 levels in January 2027. Only targeted special-rate increases are provided.

  “Under the alternative plan, General Schedule (GS) and other base pay rates for statutory pay systems will remain at 2026 levels, as will locality pay percentages.” (p. 1)

• 3.8% raise for about 140,000 employees on Special Rate Tables L001–L140, effective January 10, 2027 (summary is vague). All existing law enforcement special rate tables L001–L140 rise 3.8%. They currently cover about 140,000 employees. The increase takes effect the first pay period on or after January 1, 2027 (January 10, 2027).

  “Increase current Special Rate Tables L001 through L140 by 3.8 percent in January 2027. These special rate tables were established to provide a 3.8-percent increase in January 2026 for around 140,000 employees in certain law enforcement positions.” (p. 1)

• Newly covered law enforcement personnel get about 6.7%, not 3.8% (not in the summary). Newly covered employees receive the 2.77% catch-up increase that current table employees got in 2026, compounded with the 3.8% (1.038 × 1.0277 – 1 = 6.68%). This brings them to common pay levels, subject to statutory caps.

  “Agencies should note that these changes in coverage will result in newly covered law enforcement personnel receiving increases of approximately 6.7 percent over their current pay, subject to applicable statutory pay caps.” (p. 2)

• Expanded coverage is automatic unless the agency opts out by November 25, 2026 (not in the summary). New special rate coverage applies by default. To opt out, an agency must send a letter from the agency head or a designee (e.g., CHCO or HR Director) to PayPolicy@opm.gov by November 25, 2026. The same deadline applies to opt-outs for non-GS positions and to questions or comments.

  “Such new special rate coverage will apply automatically unless an agency sends OPM a request to be excluded from such coverage, following the instructions provided below and in the attachment.” (p. 2)

• Four new GS categories added; LEOs covered only through detainee contact are excluded (not in the summary). New coverage extends to: GS LEOs under 5 U.S.C. 5541(3), except those covered based on frequent contact with detainees; GS-0083 police; GS-0080 security staff who regularly perform both physical security and law enforcement duties and have arrest authority; GS-1811 criminal investigators.

  “GS employees serving in approved LEO positions (as defined in 5 U.S.C. 5541(3)), excluding employees who are covered by section 5541(3) based on frequent direct contact with detained suspected/convicted criminals (see 5 U.S.C. 8401(17)(D));” (p. 3)

• VA police on title 38 special rates excluded and handled separately (not in the summary). Department of Veterans Affairs police officers covered by title 38 special rates are left out of the GS-0083 expansion. Their January 2027 adjustment will be handled separately.

  “GS employees serving in the 0083 Police occupational series, excluding police officers in the Department of Veterans Affairs who are covered by title 38 special rates and whose January 2027 pay adjustment will be handled separately;” (p. 3)

• Pay caps may reduce or eliminate increases for some employees (not in the summary). Two statutory limits apply: Special rates cannot exceed Executive Schedule level IV, which stays at $197,200 in 2027.; A grade's special rate minimum cannot be more than 30% above that grade's maximum base rate. Employees near these limits may get less than 3.8% or 6.7%, or nothing.

  “Therefore, employees at or near these limits in 2026 may see no increase in their pay or receive increases of less than 3.8 percent for currently covered employees or of less than 6.7 percent for newly covered employees in January 2027.” (p. 2)

• Non-GS law enforcement positions also covered, including new 6.68% coverage (not in the summary). Positions continuing from 2026 get 3.8%: Secret Service Uniformed Division, Diplomatic Security agents and investigators, Park Police, and NNSA nuclear materials couriers. Newly covered positions get 6.68%: Commerce and Peace Corps FP-1811 investigators, and SEC non-supervisory SK-1811 investigators (subject to consultation with OPM). All are capped at EX-IV.

  “OPM plans to authorize the following agencies to implement special salary rates under 5 U.S.C. 5305 and 5 CFR 530, subpart C, to provide a 6.68-percent total increase for the following positions, which were not authorized to receive a 3.8-percent total increase for the January 2026 pay adjustment:” (p. 7)

• OPM considering 3.8% special rates for CBP agricultural inspectors and certain firefighters (not in the summary). These protective, non-law-enforcement positions may get special rates. This is separate from the President's directive and depends on staffing data showing recruitment or retention problems. OPM staff will contact the affected agencies by email.

  “Separately from implementing special rates in January 2027 following the President’s alternative plan, OPM is considering whether to establish special rates to provide a 3.8- percent increase in January 2027 for U.S. Customs and Border Protection agricultural inspectors and for certain firefighters.” (p. 2)

• Coverage expansion is prospective only, with no retroactive 2026 catch-up (not in the summary). Newly covered employees receive no back pay for the 2.77% special rate increase they did not get in 2026. Their pay levels are equalized only going forward.

  “Note that these coverage changes will be prospective and not retroactive.” (p. 2)

• The document doesn't say: How many employees will be newly covered by the expanded special rate coverage (GS or non-GS); Estimated cost of the 3.8% and 6.7% increases; Which specific Office of Inspector General positions and 'others' will be newly covered; How the January 2027 pay adjustment for VA title 38 police officers will be handled; Whether OPM will in fact establish special rates for CBP agricultural inspectors and firefighters, and how many employees that would cover; How many employees are at or near the Executive Schedule level IV cap or the 30-percent statutory limit and would get reduced or no increases; What criteria, if any, OPM will use to evaluate agency opt-out requests

OPM Review Identifies $106.7 Million in Improper Payments in FEHBP — OPM matched Treasury's August 2026 Death Record Confidence Scoring Tool against FEHB enrollment records and found about 50,000 deceased people still listed, with $96.3 million in improper payments after date of death plus an estimated $10.4 million in carrier costs. OPM says it will next review claims that may have been paid after date of death, and the Director called these findings a 'drop in the bucket' of what the integrity program expects to find.

• About 50,000 deceased individuals found still enrolled in FEHB (in the summary). OPM matched Treasury's August 2026 DRCST death data against FEHB enrollment records and found about 50,000 deceased people still listed in the program.

  “The US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has identified approximately 50,000 deceased individuals who remain listed in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) by matching Treasury’s August 2026 Death Record Confidence Scoring Tool (DRCST) against OPM’s FEHB enrollment records.” (p. 1)

• $96.3M paid after death: $70.6M in premium contributions, $25.7M in retirement payments (in the summary). The review found $96.3 million in improper post-death payments. This includes $70.6 million in government FEHB premium contributions and $25.7 million in retirement (annuity) payments.

  “including $70.6 million in government FEHB premium contributions and $25.7 million in retirement payments.” (p. 1)

• OPM will next review medical claims paid after date of death (not in the summary). OPM plans a further review in the coming weeks of claims that may have been paid after enrollees died. This is a cost category not included in the $106.7 million total.

  “OPM will examine claims that may have been paid after date of death in the coming weeks.” (p. 1)

• $10.4M estimated carrier costs for 20,000+ people kept on carrier rolls without government premium (in the summary). More than 20,000 individuals remain on carrier rolls with no government premium being paid for them. Carriers still charge FEHB funds monthly for administrative and per-member costs, an estimated $10.4 million.

  “tied to over 20,000 individuals who remain on carrier rolls even though no government premium is being paid for them.” (p. 1)

• OPM Director signals findings are a fraction of what integrity program expects to find (not in the summary). Director Kupor characterized the $106.7 million as a 'drop in the bucket.' This signals expanded integrity reviews and larger expected findings ahead.

  “These findings are a drop in the bucket of what we expect to find as we double down on our integrity program” (p. 1)

• The document doesn't say: The time period over which the $96.3 million in post-death payments accrued.; How or whether OPM will recover the improper payments, and from whom (estates, survivors, carriers).; Whether or when the roughly 50,000 records will be removed, and whether survivor annuitants or family members on self-and-family enrollments could be affected.; The accuracy or false-positive rate of the DRCST match, and whether matches will be verified before action.; The dollar amount of medical claims paid after date of death; OPM has not yet reviewed these.; Which carriers hold the 20,000+ records with no government premium.; Whether any changes to FEHB procedures, regulations, or carrier contracts will follow.