In 1958, prompted largely by former President Truman's financial difficulties, Congress enacted the Former Presidents Act (FPA; 3 U.S.C. §102 note). The FPA was designed to "maintain the dignity" of the office of the President by providing former Presidents—and their spouses—a pension and other benefits to help them respond to post-presidency mail and speaking requests, among other informal public duties often required of a former President and his spouse. As administered by the General Services Administration (GSA), the act, as amended, provides former Presidents with a pension, funds for travel, office space, support staff, and mailing privileges. Currently, four former Presidents receive pensions and benefits pursuant to the FPA. The President's FY2017 budget request seeks $3,865,000 in appropriations for expenditures for former Presidents, an increase of $588,000 (17.9%) from the FY2016 appropriation level. President Obama's anticipated transition from incumbent to former President is scheduled to occur on January 20, 2017. For FY2016, President Obama requested and received appropriations of $3,277,000 for expenditures for former Presidents—an increase of $25,000 from FY2015 appropriated levels ( P.L. The FPA is not the only authority that provides benefits to a former President. Both pieces of legislation seek to provide a former President an additional $200,000 annual allowance to be used as he determines. 1777 and S. 1411 , the values of a former President's pension and allowance would increase annually at the same percentage rate of increase authorized for benefits provided through Title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Additionally, the bills seek to remove other benefits currently provided to former Presidents, including those currently provided for travel, staff, and office expenses. Also, for every dollar a former President earned in each fiscal year that was in excess of $400,000, both H.R. Varied Post-Presidency Circumstances

Some critics of the Former Presidents Act say it subsidizes Presidents who are not struggling financially. Others may argue that while a former President may not hold a formal public position, he remains a public figure even after he leaves office. Some may argue that to cover such costs, a former President should be provided a pension and benefits that permit him to perform duties that emerge as a result of his unofficial public status. Separate statutes provide U.S. Secret Service protection to former Presidents. The aggregated pensions grew from FY2008 through FY2010, and then they declined from FY2011 to FY2015. Second, as shown in Figure 1 , despite the general trend toward overall increasing costs associated with providing pensions and benefits to former Presidents, the value of each individual former President's pension and benefits—when adjusted for inflation—has either declined or remained stable. Pensions

The FPA, as amended, requires the federal government to provide for each former President a taxable pension that is equal to the annual rate of basic pay for the head of an executive department (Executive Level I), which was $203,700 for calendar year 2015. Executive Level I pay was increased to $205,700 for calendar year 2016. Potential Policy Options for Congress

Congress has the authority to reduce, increase, or maintain the pension and benefits provided to former Presidents of the United States. This section considers the potential effects of maintaining the FPA, modifying the FPA in ways similar to H.R. Pursuant to the FPA, there is only one occupation that would result in the temporary removal of FPA pension and benefits: "an appointive or elective office or position in or under the Federal Government or the government of the District of Columbia to which is attached a rate of pay other than a nominal rate." Legislative History of the Former Presidents Act
Prior to 1958, chief executives leaving office entered retirement without federal assistance.
The Former Presidents Act (FPA; 3 U.S.C. §102 note) was enacted to "maintain the dignity" of the Office of the President. The act provides the former President—and his or her spouse—certain benefits to help him respond to post-presidency mail and speaking requests, among other informal public duties often required of a former President. Prior to enactment of the FPA in 1958, former Presidents leaving office received no pension or other federal assistance. The FPA charges the General Services Administration (GSA) with providing former U.S. Presidents a pension, support staff, office support, travel funds, and mailing privileges.
Pursuant to statute, former Presidents currently receive a pension that is equal to pay for Cabinet Secretaries (Executive Level I), which for calendar year 2015 was $203,700. Executive Level I pay was increased to $205,700 for calendar year 2016. In addition to benefits provided pursuant to the FPA, former Presidents are also provided Secret Service protection and financial "transition" benefits to assist their transition to post-presidential life. Pursuant to the FPA, former Presidents are eligible for benefits unless they hold "an appointive or elective office or position in or under the Federal Government or the government of the District of Columbia to which is attached a rate of pay other than a nominal rate."
The President's FY2017 budget request seeks $3,865,000 in appropriations for expenditures for former Presidents, an increase of $588,000 (17.9%) from the FY2016 appropriation level. The increase in requested appropriations for FY2017 anticipates President Barack Obama's transition from incumbent to former President. For FY2016, President Obama requested and received appropriations of $3,277,000 for expenditures for former Presidents—an increase of $25,000 from FY2015 appropriated levels.
Some critics of the Former Presidents Act say the statute subsidizes Presidents who are not struggling financially. Others argue that although a former President is not in a formal public position, he remains a public figure and should be provided a pension and benefits that permit him to perform duties that emerge as a result of his public status.
In the 114th Congress (2015-2016), the House and Senate are considering similar legislation that would amend the FPA. Both bills (H.R. 1777 and S. 1411) would set a former President's pension at $200,000 annually, with increases each year by the same percentage authorized for benefits provided by the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. §401). Both pieces of legislation would provide a former President an additional $200,000 annual allowance to be used as he determined and would remove other benefits currently provided to former Presidents—including those currently provided for travel, staff, and office expenses. Additionally, the bills propose that for every dollar a former President earned in each fiscal year in excess of $400,000, his federal annuity would be reduced by $1.
GSA data on payments to former Presidents show that the value of benefits provided to each of the living former Presidents—when adjusted for inflation—has generally declined from FY1998 through FY2015. The nominal appropriation levels for former Presidents' benefits, however, increased through FY2011 and then declined from FY2011 through FY2015.
This report provides a legislative and cultural history of the Former Presidents Act. It details the benefits provided to former Presidents and their costs. Congress has the authority to reduce, increase, or maintain the pension and benefits provided to former Presidents of the United States. This report considers the potential effects of maintaining the FPA or amending the FPA in ways that might reduce or otherwise modify a former President's benefits.