Amidst ongoing transitions—with the Board operating with a quorum and the President’s nominee for General Counsel pending Senate confirmation—the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB” or “Board”) released its Fiscal Year (“FY”) 2026 Budget Justification on May 23, 2025. The proposed budget requests $285.2 million, a 4.7% ($14 million) decrease from the FY 2025 enacted level.
This reduction reflects anticipated savings from staffing reductions and workforce optimization, as the agency continues to address significant delays in case management across its regional offices. The proposed budget aligns with Executive Order 14210, which directs federal agencies to optimize workforce efficiency.
Mission and Strategic Goals
The NLRB’s mission is to protect workplace democracy and the rights of employees, unions, and employers under the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA”). The agency’s FY 2022–2026 Strategic Plan (with the FY 2026–2030 plan under review for rollout in the FY 2027 cycle) emphasizes four primary goals: (1) effective enforcement of the NLRA, (2) protection of employee free choice in representation matters, (3) organizational excellence, and (4) efficient resource management to instill public trust.
Budget Overview and Staffing
The FY 2026 budget request is allocated as follows:
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