Government

What does the do?

Updates published annually

The National Mediation Board (NMB) is an independent federal agency responsible for managing labor relations in the railroad and airline industries. It mediates contract negotiations, resolves labor disputes, and conducts union representation elections to help prevent work stoppages and maintain uninterrupted transportation services. It was established in 1934 under the Railway Labor Act.

In FY 2024,

$15.3M

was spent by the National Mediation Board
In FY 2024,

<0.1%

of federal spending was by the National Mediation Board

How much does the National Mediation Board spend?

The National Mediation Board spent $15.3 million in fiscal year (FY) 2024. This was 0.00023% of the $6.78 trillion in overall federal spending. The department ranked 90th among federal agencies in total spending.

The National Mediation Board accounted for <0.1% of all federal spending in FY 2024.

Share of NMB 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 National Mediation Board’s federal spending has decreased from $16.2 million in 1980 to $15.3 million in 2024.

The National Mediation Board’s federal spending in FY 2024 was lower than in FY 1980.

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

Since 1980, National Mediation Board's spending has decreased 5.5%, 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, NMB accounted for 0.00023% of all federal spending. That’s 0.00014 percentage points lower than 2014 and 0.00048 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 National Mediation Board’s share of federal spending in FY 2024 was lower than in FY 1980.

Percentage of federal budget dedicated to NMB, 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 National Mediation Board's spending was direct.
The chart below outlines all NMB spending.

How did the National Mediation Board spend its budget in 2024?

Federal government net spending isolated to NMB, FY 2024

How many people work for the National Mediation Board?

Some 39 of the 2.31 million total civilian federal employees work for the National Mediation Board as of September 2024. This is 15.2% fewer people than the agency staffed in 2010.

The number of federal employees working for the National Mediation Board has decreased 15.2% since 2010.

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

NMB accounts for 0.0017% 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. NMB constituted a smaller share of the overall federal workforce in September 2024 than in 2010 (0.0022%).
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 National Mediation Board’s share of the workforce (0.0017%) is larger than its share of the budget (0.00023%).

Who leads the National Mediation Board?

The NMB is led by a board consisting of three members. These members are appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. The board members serve staggered three-year terms, and one of the members is designated as the chairperson. The chairperson position rotates among the board members.

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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

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