# Congress Debates FY2027 DoD Workforce Protections

On October 19, 2026, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) urged Congress to include five civilian-workforce protections in the FY2027 National Defense Authorization Act: preserve collective bargaining rights, provide at least a 3.8% pay increase, retain the wage-grade pay system, reject new pay-for-performance demonstration projects, and preserve Title 5 rights for Reserve and National Guard technicians. The House and Senate have advanced separate bills, with differences expected to be reconciled after Congress reconvenes following the November 3 midterm elections. The final legislation could affect DoD labor costs, retention, labor relations, and contractors’ workforce planning.

- Contractors supporting DoD should assess how the proposed pay increase and personnel protections could affect labor costs, staffing assumptions, and retention.
- The House and Senate bills remain separate; contractors can use the reconciliation process and final NDAA text to evaluate which workforce provisions will apply.
- AFGE National President Everett Kelley said: “DoD civilian employees need a pay adjustment of at least 3.8 percent to meet the higher cost of daily necessities, including gas, groceries, and housing.”

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Defense & Military
**Topics:** Policy
**Published:** October 19, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)
- U.S. Congress
- U.S. House Armed Services Committee (HASC)
- U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC)

### Key Quotes
> DoD civilian employees need a pay adjustment of at least 3.8 percent to meet the higher cost of daily necessities, including gas, groceries, and housing.
> — Everett Kelley, AFGE National President

### Sources
- [AFGE | AFGE Highlights 5 Priorities for Lawmakers Debating NDAA](https://www.afge.org/article/afge-highlights-5-priorities-for-lawmakers-debating-ndaa) - AFGE