Days before the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, 19 House Republicans want to ensure that “thousands of federal police officers who protect our citizens and federal property and enforce the law are [] appropriately compensated for their duty.”
Currently, those heroic officers are “not considered ‘law enforcement officers’ for federal retirement purposes and do not receive the enhanced federal law enforcement retirement benefits they deserve,” the lawmakers wrote to Scott Kupor, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Markwayne Mullin, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Pete Hegseth, the Secretary of War, and to Doug Collins, the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The letter, spearheaded Rep. Rob Wittman (R., Va.), was obtained exclusively by the Washington Reporter.
“While these brave men and women carry firearms, wear protective equipment, are authorized to arrest criminal suspects, and place their lives on the line every day, an inadequate application of the definition of ‘law enforcement officer’ has led to significant recruitment, retention, and morale challenges,” the lawmakers wrote. “Federal law enforcement officers receive enhanced retirement benefits compared to other federal employees. However, not all federal employees who perform law enforcement duties are considered federal law enforcement officers for retirement benefits. The Government Accountability Office published a report on this topic last year which highlighted broad disparities in how federal agencies classify and pay law enforcement officers. This is a significant issue that must be addressed.”
They believe that Kupor and OPM have the “administrative authority to fix this problem.”
“Specifically, we urge you to reconsider the application of 5 CFR Part 842 subpart H as it pertains to all personnel who perform police duties,” they wrote. “We request a specific review of the Department of War Police Officers, Pentagon Force Protection Agency, Department of Veterans Affairs Police, Department of Homeland Security Federal Protective Service, and all GS-0083 employees. These federal law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every single day. As a matter of fairness and logic, they have rightfully earned the same retirement benefits currently afforded to other law enforcement personnel.”
In one recent example, they cited “a recent job announcement for a Department of the Navy Police Officer.” That posting, the Republican lawmakers noted, “highlighted the physical nature of the work, carrying a firearm, wearing a uniform, and enforcing the law. These all clearly indicate law enforcement duties. However, the job announcement later says ‘this position does not meet the definition of law enforcement officer (LEO) and is excluded from coverage as LEO…’ for federal retirement purposes.” They are also “aware of operations where Department of Homeland Security employees from multiple components were performing the same duty, but all were not considered law enforcement officers for the purposes of retirement.”
Joining Wittman in signing the letter were Reps. Stephanie Bice (R., Okla.), Pete Stauber (R., Minn.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R., Pa.), Ryan Mackenzie (R., Pa.), Jen Kiggans (R., Va.), Tom Kean (R., N.J.), Andy Barr (R., Ky.), John Rutherford (R., Fla.), Rob Bresnahan (R., Pa.), Derrick Van Orden (R., Wis.), Don Bacon (R., Neb.), Chuck Edwards (R., N.C.), August Pfuger (R., Texas), Mike Haridopolos (R., Fla.), Randy Weber (R., Texas), Tom Barrett (R., Mich.), Lance Gooden (R., Texas), and John McGuire (R., Va.).
