2026 Legislative Recommendations
Below is a copy of FMA's 2026 Legislative Issue Briefs Executive Summary. Please click the PDF link below for a full description of each issue:
FMA 2026 ISSUE BRIEFS (PDF)
Advocating Excellence in Public Service
1. Congress should provide agencies and departments the resources they need and pass all appropriations bills in a timely manner.
2. Congress should never use federal employees as pawns in a government shutdown political fight and should eliminate government shutdowns altogether.
3. Congress should protect federal employees’ compensation, and health and retirement benefits.
4. Congress should protect and preserve due process for all federal employees and prevent the politicization of the civil service.
5. Congress should promote accountability consistent with merit system procedures, and provide managers with tools to deal with poor performers.
6. Congress should pass legislation to establish and fund initial and ongoing mandatory training for all managers and supervisors across the federal government, and provide for a dual-track system to allow technical experts to rise without taking on management roles.
7. Congress should allow Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) employees to make deposits for non-deduction federal service performed, in the same manner as Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) employees and former military personnel.
8. Congress should pass legislation to make cost-of-living-adjustments (COLAs) more accurate and fair, and eliminate the COLA disincentive to early retirement.
9. Congress should authorize capital investments across the federal government to restore and/or modernize facilities to meet their operational needs.
10. Congress should pass meaningful hiring reforms for the federal workforce, including expanding direct hire authority.
11. Congress should pass legislation to enhance training, support, accountability, and reporting with respect to remote work and telework.
If you have any questions or for more information, please contact Government & Public Affairs Director Greg Stanford at 703-683-8700 or via email at