Government
Data updated April 3, 2025

What does the do?

Updates published annually

The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) is an independent federal agency responsible for helping resolve disputes between employers and employees in both the public and private sectors. It provides mediation during labor negotiations, offers training to improve labor-management relationships, and supports conflict resolution in workplaces and communities. It was established in 1947.

In FY 2024,

$50.3M

was spent by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
In FY 2024,

<0.1%

of federal spending was by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service

How much does the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service spend?

The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service spent $50.3 million in fiscal year (FY) 2024. This was 0.00074% of the $6.78 trillion in overall federal spending. The department ranked 70th among federal agencies in total spending.

The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service accounted for <0.1% of all federal spending in FY 2024.

Share of FMCS 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 Mediation and Conciliation Service’s federal spending has decreased from $93.6 million in 1980 to $50.3 million in 2024.

The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service’s federal spending in FY 2024 was lower than in FY 1980.

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

Since 1980, Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service's spending has decreased 46.3%, 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, FMCS accounted for 0.00074% of all federal spending. That’s 0.00048 percentage points lower than 2014 and 0.0033 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 Mediation and Conciliation Service’s share of federal spending in FY 2024 was lower than in FY 1980.

Percentage of federal budget dedicated to FMCS, 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 Mediation and Conciliation Service's spending was direct.
The chart below outlines all FMCS spending.

How did the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service spend its budget in 2024?

Federal government net spending isolated to FMCS, FY 2024

How many people work for the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service?

Some 204 of the 2.31 million total civilian federal employees work for the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service as of September 2024. This is 16.4% fewer people than the department staffed in 2010.

The number of federal employees working for the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service has decreased 16.4% since 2010.

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

FMCS accounts for 0.0088% 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. FMCS constituted a smaller share of the overall federal workforce in September 2024 than in 2010 (0.012%).
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 Mediation and Conciliation Service's share of the workforce (0.0088%) is larger than its share of the budget (0.00074%).

Who leads the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service?

The FMCS) is led by a Director, who is appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. The Director does not serve a fixed term and remains in the role at the discretion of the president.

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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