The bill increases pay and likely improves retention for senior Border Patrol agents by expanding overtime eligibility, at the cost of modestly higher federal personnel spending borne by taxpayers.
Supervisory and senior U.S. Border Patrol agents (GS‑13, GS‑14, GS‑15) will become eligible for higher regularly scheduled overtime pay, increasing their take‑home pay.
Senior Border Patrol personnel who perform overtime work are likely to see improved morale and retention because overtime pay now applies to higher grade levels.
Taxpayers and federal budgets will face higher personnel costs from extending higher overtime pay to more senior Border Patrol positions.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Expands eligibility for a higher regularly scheduled overtime-pay provision to Border Patrol positions at grades GS‑12 through GS‑15.
Introduced December 4, 2025 by Tony Gonzales · Last progress December 4, 2025
Amends federal pay rules to expand which U.S. Border Patrol positions qualify for higher regularly scheduled overtime pay. It changes the referenced pay-grade range in 5 U.S.C. § 5550(h) from positions “at grade GS–12” to positions “from grade GS–12 through GS–15,” so supervisors at GS‑13 through GS‑15 become eligible under that subsection. The change is narrowly targeted, affects Border Patrol personnel in higher GS grades, and adjusts statutory eligibility rather than creating a new program or providing an appropriation.