Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Obama's Federal Pay Freeze Finds Cold Shoulders
By
Garth Johnston
Published Nov 30, 2010
Modified Nov 30, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Garth Johnston
Published Nov 30, 2010
Modified Nov 30, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Yesterday President Obama proposed a two-year pay freeze for most of the 1.9 million federal employees. Since this proposal (which exempts military personnel, though some argue it shouldn't) comes with a jump in health insurance premiums and a drop in transit subsidies the freeze would, if approved by Congress, in effect represent a pay cut for many. All to save roughly $1 billion a year, when the deficit is expected to top $1 trillion.
You can guess how well this is going over with those who would be taking the hit. "That's why Obama's ratings are below [ex-President George W.] Bush's," one Social Security employee in Manhattan told the Daily News "and that's hard to be unless you're Osama Bin Laden." The same woman also explained that though she'd voted for Obama, she wouldn't again. Ouch.
Tagged
federal government
obama
pay cut
pay freeze
Garth Johnston
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Better days ahead for NYC commuters with Democrats in control of Congress, MTA chair says
Republicans’ “anti-city” agenda was rejected by voters, MTA Chair Janno Lieber said.
By
Stephen Nessen
and
Ramsey Khalifeh
Published Nov 5, 2026 at 5:59 p.m. ET
$20 rent-control cap coming to Elizabeth, New Jersey
Voters approved the annual limit in this week's election.
By
Michael Sol Warren
News
$20 rent-control cap coming to Elizabeth, New Jersey
Voters approved the annual limit in this week's election.
By
Michael Sol Warren
Feds accuse former FBI agent of Brooklyn hit and run, leaving victim on a bench
By
Charles Lane
Battery found at deadly Sunset Park fire days after similar blaze in Bronx
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Inside New York's bitter Republican civil war after blue wave
By
Walter Wuthmann
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .