It seems unfathomable that it could get worse. IMS is over 20 years old and works like the stuff I was working on in the 1990s. Lol
Why can't we just modify an off the shelf big 4 product?
My AI says that as a federal employee if you want a raise this coming year you have to vote for Democrats so that they take control of both houses of Congress.
A Democratic victory in the 2026 midterm elections would likely improve the chances of higher cost-of-living raises for federal employees, as they generally support larger, consistent pay adjustments compared to their Republican counterparts, who have favored stricter pay freezes and freezes in locality pay. [1, 2]
Key Findings for 2026-2027 Pay Trends:
2026 Outlook: President Trump authorized a 1% pay raise for 2026, which is lower than raises in previous years.
2027 Proposals: Democratic lawmakers have already introduced the FAIR Act for 2027, calling for a 4.1% average pay increase. This is a recurring proposal that faces a higher chance of success if Democrats control Congress.
Political Disparity: Republican lawmakers have recently aligned with President Trump's efforts to restrict pay increases, prioritizing federal budget cuts and rejecting Democratic efforts to implement larger, formula-based increases.
2026 Pay Structure: The 1% raise for 2026 included no locality pay increase, which is a key component for matching cost-of-living changes in high-cost areas. [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]
How a 2026 Democratic Win Impacts Pay:
Higher Probability of Larger Raises: Democrats in Congress have consistently pushed for higher federal raises, proposing 4.3% in 2026 and 4.1% in 2027 (via the FAIR Act).
Congressional Override Ability: If the president proposes a pay freeze or a low raise, a Democratic-controlled Congress could pass legislation to mandate a higher increase.
Focus on Locality Pay: Democratic proposals often specifically target increases in locality pay, which is essential to keep up with regional cost-of-living differences. [3, 9, 10, 11]
While legislative action (such as the FAIR Act) is not guaranteed, a Democratic majority in Congress serves as a mechanism to challenge or override lower pay proposals, whereas a Republican majority generally supports administration-led, smaller raises or freezes. [1, 2, 12]
AI responses may include mistakes.
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgW65\_NKrAI
[2] https://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2026/04/house-gop-trumps-2027-pay-freeze/413148/
[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QsQOO2krW0
[4] https://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2026/02/dem-lawmakers-propose-41-raise-feds-2027/411337/
[5] https://www.fedweek.com/fedweek/hill-democrats-back-4-1-percent-2027-federal-employee-raise/
[6] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eH7cI9GycSY
[8] https://www.fedweek.com/fedweek/next-step-taken-toward-federal-pay-freeze-for-2027/
[9] https://stwserve.com/will-the-2026-pay-raise-keep-up-with-costs-heres-what-to-expect/
[11] https://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2026/02/dem-lawmakers-propose-41-raise-feds-2027/411337/