UNITED STATES COURT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Salaries and Expenses

SUMMARY STATEMENT OF ACCOUNT REQUIREMENTS

Mandatory Discretionary Total

Total Fiscal Year 2020 Enacted Appropriation $2,099,000 $19,564,000 $21,663,000

Total Fiscal Year 2021 Appropriation Request $2,143,000 $20,097,000 $22,240,000

Total Requested Increase from Fiscal Year 2020 Enacted Appropriation $44,000 $533,000 $577,000

APPROPRIATION LANGUAGE

UNITED STATES COURT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

 For salaries of officers and employees of the court, services, and

necessary expenses of the court, as authorized by law, [$19,564,000]$20,097,000.

 In addition, there are appropriated such sums as may be necessary under

current law for the salaries of the chief judge and judges of the court.

(P.L. 116-93 - Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2020)

 3.1
Fiscal Year 2021 Resource Requirements:

FTE Amount FTE Amount FTE Amount

Fiscal Year 2020 Obligations .............................................................................. 9 2,099 68 20,819 77 22,918

Utilization of Electronic Public Access Receipts and Judiciary Information Technology Fund Balances ... - - - (1,255) - (1,255)

Fiscal Year 2020 Enacted Appropriation 9 2,099 68 19,564 77 21,663

Page 

No. Adjustments to Base to Maintain Current Services:

A. Judges

 Pay and Benefit Adjustments

3.9 1. Proposed 2021 pay adjustment (1.0% for nine months) ........................................................ - 18 - - - 18

3.9 2. Annualization of 2020 pay adjustment (2.6% for three months) ................................................. - 16 - - - 16

3.9 3. Benefits increases

 a. Health benefits................................................................................................... - 7 - - - 7

 b. FICA adjustment............................................................................................. - 3 - - - 3

B. Personnel 

 Pay and Benefit Adjustments

3.10 4. Proposed 2021 pay adjustment (1.0% for nine months) ................................................... - - - 70 - 70

3.10 5. Annualization of 2020 pay adjustment (3.1% for three months) ............................................. - - - 72 72

3.10 6. Promotions and within-grade increases...................................................................... - - - 53 - 53

3.10 7. Benefits increases -

 a. Health benefits............................................................................................. - - - 61 - 61

 b. FICA adjustment........................................................................................... - - - 3 - 3

 c. FERS adjustment........................................................................................... - - - 61 - 61

3.11 8. One less compensable day..................................................................................... - - - (35) - (35)

SUMMARY OF REQUEST

UNITED STATES COURT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

FISCAL YEAR 2021

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

Mandatory Discretionary Total

 3.2
FTE Amount FTE Amount FTE Amount

C. Other Adjustments

3.11 9. Inflationary increases in charges for contracts, services, supplies, and equipment................. - - - 43 - 43

3.12 10. Inflationary increase and adjustments in GSA space rental costs........................................ - - - 603 - 603

3.12 - - - (398) - (398)

Subtotal, Adjustments to Base to Maintain Current Services............................................. - 44 - 533 - 577

Total Fiscal Year 2021 Appropriation Required................................................................ 9 2,143 68 20,097 77 22,240

Financing the Fiscal Year 2021 Request:

Total Appropriation Required, Fiscal Year 2021............................................................... 9 2,143 68 20,097 77 22,240

3.12 Utilization of Electronic Public Access Receipts and Judiciary Information Technology Fund Balances ... - - - 232 - 232

Total Estimated Obligations, Fiscal Year 2021................................................................ 9 2,143 68 20,329 77 22,472

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

 11. Decrease in FPS basic/building specific security surcharges.............................................

 General Inflationary Adjustments

Mandatory Discretionary Total

FISCAL YEAR 2021

SUMMARY OF REQUEST

UNITED STATES COURT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE

 3.3
FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021

Actual Enacted Request

Total Obligations 21,315 22,918 22,472

Unobligated Balance, Start of Year:

Judiciary Information Technology Fund (1,411) (1,423) (200)

Deposits and Other Adjustments:

Judiciary Information Technology Fund (958) (32) (32)

Prior Year Recoveries (179)

Unobligated Balance, End of Year:

Judiciary Information Technology Fund 1,423 200 0

Subtotal, Other Obligations (1,125) (1,255) (232)

Direct Obligations 20,190 21,663 22,240

Unobligated Balance, End of Year 76 0 0

Offsetting Collections (32) 0 0

Appropriation Total 20,234 21,663 22,240

Appropriation - Mandatory 1,352 2,099 2,143

Appropriation - Discretionary 18,882 19,564 20,097

FY 2020

FY 2019 Assumed FY 2021

Actual Obligations Request

11 Personnel compensation 6,779 8,911 9,105

12 Personnel benefits 1,883 2,233 2,368

21 Travel 140 150 153

22 Transportation of things 39 45 46

23 Rent, communications and utilities

Rental payments to GSA 8,114 8,288 8,891

Communications utilities & misc. charges 17 17 17

24 Printing and reproduction 2 3 3

25 Other services 1,889 1,691 1,320

26 Supplies and materials 43 45 46

31 Equipment 294 280 291

91 Undefined Disbursements (JITF Deposit) 990 0 0

Direct Obligations 20,190 21,663 22,240

Other Obligations (JITF Obligations) 1,125 1,255 232

Total Obligations 21,315 22,918 22,472

Description

UNITED STATES COURT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Obligations by Activity ($000)

Activity

Obligations by Budget Object Class ($000)

 3.4
FY 2020

FY 2019 Assumed FY 2021

Actual Obligations Request

Direct obligations incurred 20,190 21,663 22,240

Obligated balance, start of year 9,361 8,223 8,823

Adjustments of prior year activity (213) 0 0

Obligated balance, end of year (8,223) (8,823) (9,058)

Total Outlays 21,115 21,063 22,005

Less Offsets (34) (34) (34)

Net Outlays 21,081 21,029 21,971

UNITED STATES COURT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Salaries & Expenses

Relation of Obligations to Outlays ($000)

 3.5
3.6

UNITED STATES COURT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Summary of Mandatory Costs

Fiscal Year 2020 Fiscal Year 2021

Increase

($000)

No. of Judgeships Compensation and 

Benefits

($000)

No. of Judgeships Compensation and 

Benefits

($000)

Article III Judges 9 2,099 9 2,143 44
3.7

GENERAL STATEMENT AND INFORMATION

The United States Court of International Trade, with nine authorized Article III judgeships, has exclusive nationwide jurisdiction of 

civil actions against the United States, its agencies and officers, and certain civil actions brought by the United States, arising out of 

import transactions and the administration and enforcement of the federal customs and international trade laws. In keeping with its 

national jurisdiction, sessions of the Court may be held throughout the country.

The estimates under this title are to provide for the salaries of the judges and supporting personnel of the Court of International Trade, 

located in Manhattan, New York, and the necessary operating expenses of the Court. These operating expenses include internal 

courthouse security, Federal Protective Service (FPS) surcharges for basic and building-specific security services, GSA rent charges, 

travel, equipment maintenance contracts, cyclical maintenance of and upgrades to facilities, printing and binding, general office 

supplies, purchase of new/replacement office equipment and furniture, repair of existing equipment and furniture, access to legal 

research databases, and acquisition and maintenance of legal reference materials.

The fiscal year (FY) 2021 request for the Court of International Trade totals $22,240,000 to support the operations of the Court at a 

current services level. The request includes $2,143,000 for mandatory appropriations and $20,097,000 for discretionary 

appropriations.

FISCAL YEAR 2020 APPROPRIATION

The judiciary built the FY 2021 discretionary budget request for the U.S. Court of International Trade on the FY 2020 enacted 

appropriation, which is $19,564,000. This amount maintains current services in FY 2020. For bill language, the judiciary used the 

language from P.L. 116-93, Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2020. 
3.8

The table below provides caseload data of the Court for

FY 2014 through FY 2019.

Civil Action Cases

Pending Pending

Fiscal Beginning End

Year of Year Received Decided of Year

2014 2,269 301 544 2,026

2015 2,026 390 385 2,031

2016 2,031 270 489 1,812

2017 1,812 313 448 1,677

2018 1,677 242 428 1,491

2019 1,491 223 631 1,083
3.9

JUSTIFICATION OF CHANGES

The FY 2021 budget request for the Court includes $2,143,000 

for mandatory appropriations and $20,097,000 for 

discretionary appropriations. The discretionary request is a 2.7

percent increase over the FY 2020 enacted appropriation of

$19,564,000. The total increase reflects only the necessary 

adjustments to base to maintain current services. The Court 

requests no program increases in FY 2021. 

ADJUSTMENTS TO BASE TO MAINTAIN CURRENT 

SERVICES

The following narrative provides information and justification 

for each of the adjustments to base for the Court.

A. JUDGES

1. Proposed 2021 pay adjustment

Mandatory Increase: $18,000

The judiciary is assuming federal pay rates will increase by 1.0 

percent in January 2021. The requested increase provides for 

the cost of nine months of the anticipated pay raise in FY 2021, 

from January 2021 to September 2021. (If the pay adjustment 

included in the President’s FY 2021 budget request is different 

than 1.0 percent, the judiciary will revise this line item in its 

FY 2021 budget re-estimate.)

2. Annualization of 2020 pay adjustment

Mandatory Increase: $16,000

The requested increase provides for the annualized costs of the 

2020 pay adjustment associated with the Employment Cost 

Index (ECI) . Based on the enacted FY 2020 appropriation

bill, federal pay rates for judges increased by 2.6 percent,

effective as of January 2020. The requested increase provides 

for the cost of three months (from October 2020 to December 

2020) of the 2020 pay increase in FY 2021.

3. Benefits increases

a. Health benefits

Mandatory Increase: $7,000

Based on information from the Office of Personnel 

Management, agency health benefit premium contributions are 

projected to increase by an average of 3.2 percent both in 

January 2020 and January 2021. The requested increase 

annualizes the 2020 premium increase and includes a ninemonth provision for an estimated 3.2 percent increase 

anticipated for FY 2021.
3.10

b. FICA adjustment 

Mandatory Increase: $3,000

Based on information from the Social Security Administration, 

employer contributions to the Old Age, Survivor, and 

Disability Insurance (OASDI) portion of the FICA tax will 

increase in 2020. The salary cap for OASDI increased from 

$132,900 to $137,700 in January 2020. The requested amount 

is needed to pay the agency’s contribution in FY 2021.

B. PERSONNEL

Pay and Benefit Adjustments

4. Proposed 2021 pay adjustment

Requested Increase: $70,000

The judiciary is assuming federal pay rates will increase by 1.0 

percent in January 2021. The requested increase provides for 

the cost of nine months of the anticipated pay raise in FY 2021, 

from January 2021 to September 2021. (If the pay adjustment 

included in the President’s FY 2021 budget request is different 

than 1.0 percent, the judiciary will revise this line item in its 

FY 2021 budget re-estimate.)

5. Annualization of 2020 pay adjustment

Requested Increase: $72,000

The requested increase provides for the annualized costs of the

2020 pay adjustment for ECI and locality pay. Based on the 

enacted FY 2020 appropriation bill, federal pay rates in New 

York City increased by 3.1 percent, effective as of January 

2020. The requested increase provides for the cost of three 

months (from October 2020 to December 2020) of the 2020

pay increase in FY 2021.

6. Promotions and within-grade increases

Requested Increase: $53,000

The requested increase provides for promotions and withingrade increases for personnel. The salary plan for judicial 

support personnel provides for periodic within-grade increases 

for staff who receive at least a satisfactory performance rating.

7. Benefits increases

a. Health benefits 

Requested Increase: $61,000

Based on information from the Office of Personnel 

Management, agency health benefit premium contributions are 
3.11

projected to increase by an average of 3.2 percent both in 

January 2020 and January 2021. The requested increase 

annualizes the 2020 premium increase and includes a ninemonth provision for an estimated 3.2 percent increase 

anticipated for FY 2021.

b. FICA adjustment

Requested Increase: $3,000

Based on information from the Social Security Administration, 

employer contributions to the Old Age, Survivor, and 

Disability Insurance (OASDI) portion of the FICA tax will 

increase in 2020. The salary cap for OASDI increased from 

$132,900 to $137,700 in January 2020. The requested amount 

is needed to pay the agency contribution in FY 2021.

c. FERS adjustment

Requested Increase: $61,000

Consistent with guidance from the Office of Management and 

Budget, funds are requested for an increase in the agency 

contribution rate to Federal Employees Retirement System 

(FERS) plans for FY 2021. For most employees, the agency 

contribution rate will increase from 16.0 percent to 17.3

percent. Any FERS increase is in accordance with revised 

estimates of the cost of providing benefits by the Board of 

Actuaries of the Civil Service Retirement and Disability 

System.

8. One less compensable day

Requested Decrease: ($35,000)

There is one less compensable day in FY 2021 than in FY 

2020. The requested amount decreases personnel compensation 

and benefits associated with one less compensable day for 

biweekly paid employees.

C. OTHER ADJUSTMENTS

General Inflationary Adjustments

9. Inflationary increases in charges for contracts, 

services, supplies, and equipment

Requested Increase: $43,000

Consistent with guidance from the Office of Management and 

Budget, this requested increase is required to fund inflationary 

adjustments of 2.0 percent for operating expenses such as 

travel, communications, printing, contractual services, supplies 

and materials, and furniture and equipment.
3.12

10. Increase in GSA space rental costs

Requested Increase: $603,000

This request represents the actual increase of $603,000 in the 

cost of GSA space rental charges for FY 2021.

11. Decrease in Federal Protective Service (FPS) 

basic/building specific security surcharges

Requested Decrease: ($398,000)

Based on the Department of Homeland Security’s FPS’s 

estimate, a decrease of $398,000 in basic and building specific 

security surcharge costs is expected in FY 2021. The building 

specific security surcharges provide for the Court’s pro rata 

share of installing, operating, and maintaining the enhanced 

security for the Federal Complex in lower Manhattan. In 2019, 

FPS changed their revenue fee structure resulting in a decrease 

of security surcharges.

FINANCING THE FISCAL YEAR 2021 REQUEST

Utilization of Electronic Public Access Receipts and the 

Judiciary Information Technology Fund

Estimated Obligations: $232,000

At the beginning of FY 2020, $1,455,000 was available in 

carry forward balances from the Judiciary Information 

Technology Fund, including $32,000 from Electronic Public 

Access receipts. Of this amount, the Court is planning to use 

$1,255,000 during FY 2020 to:

• continue the contract for IT security services to enhance 

the Court’s cybersecurity program; 

• upgrade the court’s back-up and storage infrastructure;

• upgrade the court’s network infrastructure hardware;

• upgrade software maintenance and licensing of existing 

software applications for major requirements, such as 

Microsoft and Linux;

• continue to maintain and support the video 

conferencing system, digital recording system, data 

network and voice connections, Virtual Private 

Network System (VPN), Voice Over Internet Protocol 

(VOIP), and Judiciary Data Communications Network 

(DCN); and

• purchase computer desktop systems, monitors, laptops, 

mobile devices, and printers, according to the 

judiciary=s cyclical replacement program.

At the beginning of FY 2021, the Court anticipates that 

$232,000 will be available in carry forward balances into the 

Judiciary Information Technology Fund, including $32,000 of 

EPA receipts. These funds will be used to continue the Court’s 

information technology initiatives as described above and to 

support its short-term and long-term IT needs.