The Thrift Savings Plan has officially crossed a major milestone. According to the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board’s January 2026 Participant Activity Report, total TSP assets reached $1.073 trillion as of December 2025, a figure that reflects decades of contributions from millions of federal employees and service members.
Here’s a closer look at what the numbers show.
FERS Participation and Balances
There are currently 4,142,692 FERS TSP accounts with an average balance of $217,291. Participation remains strong — 95.6% of FERS employees contribute at least 5% of their salary, capturing the full agency match.
Roth TSP Adoption
Of those millions of FERS participants, only 1,195,101 have a Roth TSP account — roughly one in three. The average Roth balance sits at $38,718, reflecting the fact that many federal employees added the Roth option later in their careers. Nearly 3 million TSP participants across all plan types have some Roth money, but the relatively low average balance suggests most are just getting started.
More Money Is Leaving Than Coming In
One number worth paying attention to: in 2025, TSP participants contributed $55.32 billion while withdrawals totaled $74.33 billion — a net outflow of $19 billion. This reflects the growing wave of federal retirements as baby boomer-era employees separate from service.
What’s New in 2026
Effective January 1, 2026, a SECURE 2.0 Act provision now requires that catch-up contributions made by participants earning over $150,000 be directed to Roth accounts only. Federal employees in that income range who have been making traditional catch-up contributions will want to take note.
Additionally, in-plan Roth conversions are now available within the TSP. This means federal employees can convert existing traditional TSP balances to Roth. A significant new planning tool, particularly for those who expect to be in a higher tax bracket in retirement.
Want to Know How These Changes Affect You?
Every federal employee’s situation is different. A Federal Retirement Consultant (FRC®) can walk you through your TSP strategy, full benefits analysis, and overall retirement picture at no cost to you.
