Partnership for Public Service Launches Independent Federal Employee Survey to Fill Critical Data Gap

November 10, 2025

Public Service Viewpoint Survey will provide important employee insights at a time of significant change for the federal workforce

WASHINGTON— The nonpartisan, nonprofit Partnership for Public Service today announced it will conduct the Public Service Viewpoint Survey, an independent federal employee engagement survey designed to fill a critical void left by the Office of Personnel Management’s cancellation of the 2025 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey.

For the first time since it was administered in 2002, OPM canceled the annual employee survey despite it being required by law. The administration’s decision eliminates a critical management tool that agency leaders have relied on for decades to understand workforce perspectives, identify opportunities for improvement, and make evidence-based decisions about workplace policies.

“For more than 20 years, workforce data generated through the FEVS has helped leaders across government—regardless of administration—identify problems, track progress, and deliver better results for the American taxpayer,” said Max Stier, president and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service. “We are conducting the Public Service Viewpoint Survey because we know our government’s most important asset is its people, and it is critical that federal employees across government have an opportunity to share their views about their organizations and leaders.”

Since 2003, the Partnership has used the FEVS data to produce its annual Best Places to Work in the Federal Government^® rankings and analysis, an important vehicle for holding federal leaders accountable and assessing agencies’ ability to deliver on their missions.

“For decades, government leaders from across the political spectrum have emphasized that maintaining a highly engaged workforce is key to driving productivity, service quality and organizational performance,” said Stier. “The data from our survey will help agency leaders and policymakers make data-informed decisions during a year of significant workforce transition.”

Through the Public Service Viewpoint Survey, career federal employees can share their perspectives on their workplace, work unit, supervisor, organization and leadership. The survey broadly follows the questions and themes from the FEVS but uses a smaller set of questions focused on workplace experience and satisfaction to reduce completion time and burden.

The Partnership is working with federal employee unions and professional organizations to distribute the survey.

A Rigorous, Nonpartisan Approach

The development, administration and analysis of the Public Service Viewpoint Survey is guided by a nonpartisan advisory board of former federal human capital leaders, public administration scholars and private sector experts.

As the first survey of its kind conducted by a non-government organization, the Partnership will follow a rigorous independent analysis process to assess the validity and reliability of responses. Following the review process, the organization intends to release the results of the survey next year.

The Partnership has taken significant steps to protect survey respondents’ confidentiality. Results will only be reported in aggregate at government-wide, agency and subcomponent levels, and cannot be used to identify specific employees.

Federal employees can learn more about the survey on our website. The survey should be completed during personal time.

During the past 24 years, the nonpartisan, nonprofit Partnership for Public Service has been dedicated to building a better government and a stronger democracy. We work across administrations to help transform the way government works by providing agencies with the data insights they need to succeed, developing effective leaders, inspiring the next generation to public service, facilitating smooth presidential transitions and recognizing exceptional federal employees.

Visit ourpublicservice.org, follow us @PublicService and subscribe today to get the latest federal news, information on upcoming Partnership programs and events, and more.

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