District of Columbia Chief Financial Officer Salary Home Rule Act

Bill Number

H.R. 6928

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Government Operations and Politics

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-12-23: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Last Updated

2026-01-23T14:41:41Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This legislation, titled the "District of Columbia Chief Financial Officer Salary Home Rule Act," aims to give the District of Columbia (D.C.) greater control over setting the salary for its Chief Financial Officer (CFO). It modifies existing federal law to allow D.C. to potentially pay the CFO more than the standard federal pay cap, promoting local autonomy in managing its financial leadership.

Key Provisions

• Salary Determination: The CFO's pay must be the higher of:
• A rate tied to the federal pay limit under 5 U.S.C. §5307 (which caps total compensation for certain high-level federal employees to prevent excessive pay without congressional approval).
• A rate set by D.C. law.
• Protection Against Reduction: Once a D.C.-set rate is applied to a serving CFO, it cannot be lowered during that individual's tenure.
• Short Title: The act is formally called the "District of Columbia Chief Financial Officer Salary Home Rule Act."

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Amends Section 424(b)(2)(E) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act (codified at D.C. Official Code §1-204.24b(b)(5)).
• Previously, the CFO's pay was strictly limited to the federal cap under 5 U.S.C. §5307. This change removes that rigid federal constraint, allowing D.C. to establish its own salary rate if it exceeds the federal limit, while still requiring compliance with the federal cap as a minimum.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: Empowers D.C.'s local government (e.g., the Council and Mayor) to offer competitive salaries, potentially improving recruitment and retention of qualified financial experts. It reduces federal micromanagement over D.C.'s executive compensation.
• On Citizens: D.C. residents may indirectly benefit from stronger local financial oversight if higher pay attracts more skilled leaders, leading to better management of city budgets and services.
• On International Relations: No direct impact, as this is a domestic matter focused on U.S. local governance.
• Overall, the change is narrow and administrative, unlikely to cause broad disruptions but could set a precedent for expanding D.C.'s home rule authority.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• D.C. Government Officials: The D.C. Council, Mayor, and CFO, who gain flexibility in compensation decisions.
• Federal Oversight Bodies: Congress (via the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform) and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, which enforce federal pay rules but now have less direct control over D.C.'s CFO salary.
• D.C. Taxpayers and Residents: As funders of the CFO's salary through local budgets, they may see costs rise if D.C. opts for higher pay, but with potential long-term gains in fiscal efficiency.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Reinforces the principles of the D.C. Home Rule Act (1973), which grants limited self-governance to D.C. while maintaining congressional oversight. The amendment aligns with federalism by balancing local needs against national pay standards, avoiding conflicts with anti-deficiency laws or equal pay requirements.
• Constitutional: Touches on Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution, which gives Congress exclusive legislative authority over D.C. This bill exercises that authority to delegate more power to D.C., potentially reducing tensions over D.C.'s lack of full state-like autonomy.
• Political: Could be seen as a modest step toward greater D.C. self-determination, appealing to advocates for D.C. statehood or expanded home rule. It may encourage similar bills for other D.C. positions, influencing partisan debates on federal-local relations without major controversy.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

Recent Actions

• 2025-12-23: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
• 2025-12-23: Introduced in House
• 2025-12-23: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• District of Columbia Chief Financial Officer Salary Home Rule Act — issued 2025-12-23 — PDF (2 pages)