Federal employees' pensions are based on the highest three-year average salary (usually the last three years worked). If that figure is frozen it could mean smaller than expected benefits when workers do retire.

"People's high-three won't go up," Causey said.

Federal employees will "be getting a salary but their retirement annuities won't go up," Causey said.

A freeze could affect other groups of workers, he said. Federal pay is tied to the salaries of federal contractors, foreign embassy employees and Washington-based unions.

Causey said the freeze would have a "rippling effect" but added, "This won't have a crippling effect."