Government
Data updated April 3, 2025

What does the do?

Updates published annually

The Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) is an independent federal agency responsible for managing labor relations between federal agencies and their employees (excluding the Postal Service). It resolves disputes between agencies and unions, enforces labor laws, and offers training and guidance on labor-management relations. It was established in 1978.

In FY 2024,

$30.6M

was spent by the Federal Labor Relations Authority
In FY 2024,

<0.1%

of federal spending was by the Federal Labor Relations Authority

How much does the Federal Labor Relations Authority spend?

The Federal Labor Relations Authority spent $30.6 million in fiscal year (FY) 2024. This was 0.00045% of the $6.78 trillion in overall federal spending. The department ranked 81st among federal agencies in total spending.

The Federal Labor Relations Authority accounted for <0.1% of all federal spending in FY 2024.

Share of FLRA net spending compared to the top ten highest spending agencies in FY 2024

Federal spending may shift over time due to population growth, changes in policy and programs, and emerging problems to address. Adjusting for inflation, the Federal Labor Relations Authority’s federal spending has decreased from $55.2 million in 1980 to $30.6 million in 2024.

The Federal Labor Relations Authority’s federal spending in FY 2024 was lower than in FY 1980.

Yearly federal net spending by FLRA, adjusted for inflation (2024 dollars), FYs 1980–2024

Since 1980, the Federal Labor Relations Authority's spending has decreased 44.6%, while overall spending has increased 193.7%.
The department’s spending grew less than overall spending, which means that the department’s share of the federal budget decreased. In 2024, FLRA accounted for 0.00045% of all federal spending. That’s 0.00026 percentage points lower than 2014 and 0.0019 points lower than in 1980.
Major legislation, internal or global economic conditions, and acute events like the COVID-19 pandemic can affect spending year to year. For example, the federal budget fluctuated during the pandemic, rising from $5.3 trillion (in 2023 dollars) in 2019 to $7.7 trillion in 2020 and $7.8 trillion in 2021.

The Federal Labor Relations Authority’s share of federal spending in FY 2024 was lower than in FY 1980.

Percentage of federal budget dedicated to FLRA, FYs 1980–2024

Most federal spending can be categorized as direct or indirect. Direct spending refers to money the federal government spends on budget items such as federal programs, employee salaries, and debt interest. Indirect spending refers to federal transfers to state and local governments.
In FY 2024, all of the Federal Labor Relations Authority's spending was direct.
The chart below outlines all FLRA spending.

How did the Federal Labor Relations Authority spend its budget in 2024?

Federal government net spending isolated to FLRA, FY 2024

How many people work for the Federal Labor Relations Authority?

Some 121 of the 2.31 million total civilian federal employees work for the Federal Labor Relations Authority as of September 2024. This is 14.8% fewer people than the agency staffed in 2010.

The number of federal employees working for the Federal Labor Relations Authority has decreased 14.8% since 2010.

Number of federal employees working for FLRA, September 2010–2024

FLRA accounts for 0.0052% of the overall federal workforce. As the number of federal employees has changed, so too has the way the workforce is organized, with resources allocated to agencies depending on government priorities. FLRA constituted a smaller share of the overall federal workforce in September 2024 than in 2010 (0.0069%).
While the number of employees on an agency’s payroll contributes to that agency’s expenditures, some agencies have relatively few employees compared to their budget or vice versa, giving them an outsized share of either the budget or the workforce. According to the most recent data, the Federal Labor Relations Authority's share of the workforce (0.0052%) is larger than its share of the budget (0.00045%).

Who leads the Federal Labor Relations Authority?

The FLRA is led by a Chairman, who is designated by the President from among the three Senate-confirmed Authority Members. The Chairman serves as the agency's chief executive and administrative officer, overseeing its operations through the Office of the Executive Director.

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Methodology

USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.

Page sources

USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.

  • Office of Personnel Management

    FedScope

  • Office of Management and Budget and US Department of the Treasury

    Budget of the US Government and Monthly Treasury Statement

    Office of Management and Budget and US Department of the Treasury logo