What does the Merit Systems Protection Board do?

Updates published annually

The Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) is an independent federal agency responsible for safeguarding the integrity of the civil service system and protecting the rights of federal employees. It hears appeals on personnel actions such as removals, suspensions, and demotions, ensuring those decisions are based on merit and free from prohibited practices. It also conducts studies to evaluate the effectiveness of federal merit systems. It was established in 1979.

In FY 2024,

$52.5M

was spent by the Merit Systems Protection Board

In FY 2024,

<0.1%

of federal spending was by the Merit Systems Protection Board

How much does the Merit Systems Protection Board spend?

The Merit Systems Protection Board spent $52.5 million in fiscal year (FY) 2024. This was 0.00077% of the $6.78 trillion in overall federal spending. The department ranked 69th among federal agencies in total spending.

The Merit Systems Protection Board accounted for <0.1% of all federal spending in FY 2024.

Share of MSPB 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 Merit Systems Protection Board’s federal spending has decreased from $59.3 million in 1980 to $52.5 million in 2024.

The Merit Systems Protection Board’s federal spending in FY 2024 was lower than in FY 1980.

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

Since 1980, the Merit Systems Protection Board's spending has decreased 11.5%, 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, MSPB accounted for 0.00077% of all federal spending. That’s 0.0003 percentage points lower than 2014 and 0.0018 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 Merit Systems Protection Board’s share of federal spending in FY 2024 was lower than in FY 1980.

Percentage of federal budget dedicated to MSPB, 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 Merit Systems Protection Board's spending was direct.

The chart below outlines all MSPB spending.

How did the Merit Systems Protection Board spend its budget in 2024?

Federal government net spending isolated to MSPB, FY 2024

How many people work for the Merit Systems Protection Board?

Some 186 of the 2.31 million total civilian federal employees work for the Merit Systems Protection Board as of September 2024. This is 15.1% fewer people than the department staffed in 2010.

The number of federal employees working for the Merit Systems Protection Board has decreased 15.1% since 2010.

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

MSPB accounts for 0.0081% 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. MSPB constituted a smaller share of the overall federal workforce in September 2024 than in 2010 (0.011%).

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 Merit Systems Protection Board's share of the workforce (0.0081%) is larger than its share of the budget (0.00077%).

Who leads the Merit Systems Protection Board?

The Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) is led by a Chairman, who is appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. The Board consists of three members—Chairman, Vice Chairman, and one additional member—each serving staggered seven-year terms, and also nominated by the president and approved by the Senate. The president designates which member serves as Chairman.

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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