Executive Order 13756-Adjustments of Certain Rates of Pay
Issued 2016-12-27 by Barack Obama
Plain-English Overview
AI-generated summary explaining what this action does, who it affects, and why it matters
This executive order adjusts the pay rates for various categories of federal government employees. It updates salary schedules for statutory pay systems including the General Schedule (which covers most federal civilian workers), the Foreign Service Schedule, and Veterans Health Administration employees. The order also sets new pay ranges for Senior Executive Service members and adjusts salaries for certain executive, legislative, and judicial positions, including the Vice President, members of Congress, and federal judges.
The order affects members of the uniformed services by implementing adjusted monthly basic pay rates, as well as pay for cadets and midshipmen. It also establishes locality-based comparability payments, which are additional payments that vary by geographic area. Additionally, it sets new rates for administrative law judges. Most of these changes took effect on the first day of the first pay period beginning on or after January 1, 2017, with military pay rates effective January 1, 2017.
This represents a routine annual adjustment of federal pay rates. The order explicitly states it operates under authority granted by the Constitution and laws of the United States, referencing specific sections of federal law that govern pay adjustments for different categories of government employees. It superseded a similar executive order from December 2015.
AI-generated summary for educational purposes
Constitutional Analysis
How this action fits (or doesn't) within Article II authority and existing law
Executive Order 13756 addresses "Executive Order 13756-Adjustments of Certain Rates of Pay". Executive orders are a long-established exercise of presidential power, used by every President since George Washington. They are grounded in Article II of the Constitution, which vests executive power in the President and directs them to "take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed."
Executive orders cannot create new law, contradict existing federal statutes, or exceed the President's constitutional authority. The legitimacy of any specific order depends on whether it operates within statutory authority Congress has delegated, directs the executive branch on matters within its constitutional purview, or attempts to substitute executive policy for legislative choices. Courts can and do review executive orders for conformity with the Constitution and federal law.
Official Summary
Administration of Barack Obama, 2016 Executive Order 13756—Adjustments of Certain Rates of Pay December 27, 2016 By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 1 . Statutory Pay Systems . The rates of basic pay or salaries of the statutory pay systems (as defined in 5 U.S.C. 5302(1)), as adjusted under 5 U.S.C. 5303, are set forth on the schedules attached hereto and made a part hereof: (a) The General Schedule (5 U.S.C. 5332(a)) at Schedule 1; (b) The Foreign Service Schedule (22 U.S.C. 3963) at Schedule 2; and (c) The schedules for the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs (38 U.S.C. 7306, 7404; section 301(a) of Public Law 102–40) at Schedule 3. Sec. 2 . Senior Executive Service . The ranges of rates of basic pay for senior executives in the Senior Executive Service, as established pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 5382, are set forth on Schedule 4 attached hereto and made a part hereof. Sec. 3 . Certain Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Salaries . The rates of basic pay or salaries for the following offices and positions are set forth on the schedules attached