WASHINGTON (February 15, 2013)—The U.S. House voted Friday to extend the current pay freeze for the nation's 2 million civilian federal workers.

Supporters said that blocking a raise proposed by President Barack Obama for the last nine months of this year will save $11 billion and that well-compensated federal employees can afford it.

But Democrats, and a few Republicans, argued that federal workers have already done more than their fair share in helping reduce the federal deficit and they are being singled out for punishment by anti-government lawmakers.

The House vote would block the 0.5 percent pay increase scheduled to go into effect at the end of March.

The measure is likely to receive a cold reception in the Democratic-controlled Senate.