The White House announced Nov. 29 a freeze to federal civilian worker pay for calendar year 2011 and 2012, which would save the government more than $60 Billion over the next 10 years. In a press call (scroll down to the media player to listen to the call), White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer said the pay freeze addresses the need to reduce the massive federal debt the Obama Administration inherited.

The pay freeze is just one of many difficult steps ahead, said Jeffrey Zients, acting director and deputy director for management at the Office of Management and Budget. He added that the pay freeze is consistent with actions the White House has already made in making government more cost efficient and accountable.

Zients said he looks forward to working with Capitol Hill to reign in deficits, and explained that a pay freeze would require congressional approval. It is unclear whether or not federal workforce cuts will be made and Zients said it is being discussed in the budgeting process currently underway. He said agencies will have to continue to do more with less.

Despite the possible pay freeze, Zients said the administration still cares about attracting the best and brightest to the federal government. The overall value proposition to prospective federal employees is "still quite attractive," said Zients.

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