The rapidly growing pay of federal workers has caught the attention of the fiscally conservative Republicans, who won the majority of last week’s elections for the U.S. House of Representatives.

A study performed by USA Today has found that the average federal salary has risen significantly over the last several years. The number of federal employees earning $150,000 and more has doubled, and salaries have increased tenfold since Obama moved into the Oval Office.

The USA Today analysis also revealed that the raises were prevalent government-wide, but thatlong-time workers have benefited most from pay increases. The salaries of federal employees working since 2005 have climbed 25 percent, in comparison to a nine percent inflation rate for short-term workers. Physicians within the federal workforce have also been rewarded. Medical professionals at veteran prisons and hospitals now earn an average of $179,500, as compared to $111,000 in 2005.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, heads the panel which will analyze federal pay. Chaffetz says he wants a pay freeze and a 10 percent pay cut across the federal workforce.

“It’s stunning when you see what’s happened to federal compensation,” says Chaffetz. “Every metric show we’re heading in the wrong direction.”

Do you agree with Chaffetz? How is it that some people feel government workers are grossly overpaid, while other studies reveal them to be underpaid for their performance?