Federal agencies now have a clearer picture of what will be expected when they conduct the 2026 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS). For the first time in the survey’s history, agencies will administer their own employee engagement surveys instead of participating in a single governmentwide effort led by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
To support the transition, OPM has released implementation guidance outlining everything from planning and survey administration to reporting requirements.
Agencies Will Manage Their Own Surveys
Beginning with the 2026 survey cycle, responsibility for conducting the FEVS shifts from OPM to individual agencies. Rather than administering one centralized survey across the federal government, each agency will oversee its own process while following minimum federal requirements.
OPM has published an Employee Survey Playbook to help agencies navigate the transition. The guide covers survey planning, execution, data submission, and reporting. Agencies that need additional assistance can also request support from OPM’s Human Resources Solutions office.
The 10 Required Survey Questions
Although agencies will have greater responsibility for administering the survey, they must still include a standard set of 10 core questions. Employees will respond using a scale ranging from “strongly disagree” to “strongly agree.”
The required questions focus on topics such as:
- Whether managers communicate organizational goals effectively.
- Cooperation among coworkers.
- Recognition of differences in employee performance.
- Supervisor feedback and accountability.
- Understanding how individual work supports agency objectives.
- Employee empowerment.
- Confidence in reporting suspected misconduct without fear of retaliation.
- Whether poor performance is addressed appropriately.
- Outcomes for employees who consistently underperform.
The final question asks employees to identify what typically happens to poor performers within their work unit, including whether they improve, remain in place, transfer, resign, or whether no poor performers exist.
Compared to previous years, the standardized portion of the survey has been significantly reduced. The required question set drops from 16 items to 10, removing several longstanding questions related to overall job satisfaction, employee recognition, communication, and involvement in workplace decisions.
Why the Change?
Federal law still requires employee engagement surveys across government. That requirement dates back to the National Defense Authorization Act of 2004, which directed OPM to establish standard survey questions that allow agencies to compare workforce engagement and organizational performance.
To reflect the new decentralized approach, OPM has proposed updates to 5 CFR Part 250. The proposed regulation was published on July 2, 2026, and public comments will be accepted through August 3, 2026.
Reporting Requirements Remain
Even though agencies will administer their own surveys, they must still provide their results to both OPM and the Office of Management and Budget within 90 days after completing the survey.
In most cases, agencies must also make their survey results publicly available within 120 days unless doing so would present a national security concern.
One notable question remains unanswered: whether OPM will continue producing the governmentwide comparison reports that have traditionally allowed Congress, researchers, and employees to compare engagement levels across agencies.
Estimated Cost of the Transition
According to OPM’s estimates, agencies should expect to spend approximately 100 staff hours implementing the new process during the first year. That translates to an estimated cost of about $15,600 per agency, or roughly $1.25 million across the federal government.
Bottom Line
The 2026 FEVS will look noticeably different from previous years. Agencies will have greater responsibility for administering their own employee surveys, while the standardized portion has been streamlined to just 10 required questions. Although agencies may choose to add their own survey items, those additional questions require separate approval from the Office of Management and Budget, leaving the core questions as the primary basis for any governmentwide comparisons.
