Congressman Eric Sorensen Joins Bipartisan Effort to Increase Pay for Federal Correctional Officers

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) is joining bipartisan legislation to raise pay for federal correctional officers and improve safety inside federal prisons, including facilities serving Illinois. The Federal Correctional Officer Paycheck Protection Act of 2026 would provide a 35 percent base pay increase for eligible Bureau of Prisons employees, helping address chronic staffing shortages, excessive mandatory overtime, and high turnover rates.

“Federal correctional officers do one of the toughest jobs in public service, and they deserve pay that reflects the risks they take and the responsibilities they carry,” said Congressman Sorensen. “This bill supports the officers who keep our communities safe while strengthening staffing and safety inside our federal prisons.”

"Retention isn't just about keeping staff—it's about valuing the people who show up, day after day, to do the hard work that keeps our institution running. Staffing has been a critical issue for us from the beginning,” said Jon Zumkehr, President, AFGE 4070. “We’re losing our people to other agencies simply because of pay, and that gap makes it harder every year to keep good people in these jobs. This bill is needed to retain the staff at Thomson and around the Federal Bureau of Prisons."

“This bill will make our pay competitive, allowing us to recruit new staff, retain our qualified staff, and finally put an end to our heavy reliance on augmentation,” said Sam Metcalf, Local 0701.

Congressman Sorensen has repeatedly advocated for higher pay and adequate staffing levels at Bureau of Prison facilities in the district, raising concerns directly with BOP leadership and pressing for reforms to improve working conditions and safety for both officers and inmates.

The legislation applies to officers and Bureau of Prisons employees who regularly work in custodial settings with direct inmate contact. The pay increase would count as basic pay, ensuring it is included in retirement and other federal benefits.

The bill also includes a five-year review to measure whether higher pay improves recruitment, retention, and workplace safety, and reduces excessive overtime.

The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Read the full bill text here.