Conceivably you could increase the salaries of Federal employees, while reducing headcount and still come out ahead.
I’d offer you a counter example. Private School teachers on average make less than their Public Counter parts despite their students far outperforming public school kids.
Why? Because at the end of the day it’s not about the salary. It’s about do nothing, mediocrities being drawn to government work like moths to a flame.
You should just do volunteer work for a cause dear to your heart then.