Kenneth Feinberg, the federal "pay czar" will release a list of 2010 compensation decisions this week affecting five U.S. companies, including General Motors, where pay is to be restricted due to their acceptance of government bailout funding.

The terms of the assistance program prevent the top 25 executives at the firms from receiving base, cash pay of more than $500,000 unless acceptable justification can be presented for a larger amount.

The U.S. Treasury owns more than 60 percent of GM as a result of a federally-funded bankruptcy and reorganization in 2009. Additionally, the government owns a small portion of the Chrysler Group, now under the management of Fiat S.p.A.

Speaking to a group of reporters at a conference held by the Society of American Business Editors and Writers, Feinberg said, "In General Motors, there will be some people that the company has convinced me should be receiving compensation in excess of $500,000 in base cash salary, there will be some of them."

Feinberg did add, however, that the number of GM executives receiving greater pay would be lower than the 14 who took home more than $500,000 in 2009. "This year," he said, "we have to cut back."

Currently, Feinberg's authority to set salaries extends to top executives and some lower officers at GM, Chrysler, GMAC, Chrysler Financial and AIG.