The Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) has been around long enough to become part of the rhythm of federal life. Each year, it gives employees a chance to weigh in on issues that shape their day-to-day: Everything from trust in leadership to workload, engagement, and morale.
The feedback doesn’t sit on a shelf. Agencies look at it to see where things are slipping or improving. Congress and oversight bodies also review the results, using them to judge how leaders are supporting, or failing, their workforce.
What Happened in 2025
In August, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announced that the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey had been canceled for 2025. The stated reason is that the survey is being revised to remove certain diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) questions and to align the tool more closely with administrative goals.
This decision stands out. While the survey has been delayed before, it has never been canceled outright. That means there will be no government-wide snapshot of federal employee sentiment for 2025 — a gap that many see as significant, given the survey’s role in shaping workplace policy and oversight.
Why it Matters for You (and Workplace Data Gaps)
With the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey canceled, there’s no official benchmark for employee engagement, confidence in leadership, or workplace satisfaction this year. Agencies lose a critical management tool that helps track morale and guide improvements. Employees, meanwhile, lose one of the few anonymous, government-wide channels for voicing concerns.
Without this year’s data, it’s harder to see how one agency stacks up against another or to spot problems that cut across the government. For many Feds, the gap feels like losing one of the few chances to raise concerns anonymously and know they’ll register beyond their own office.
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How it Affects Your Financial and Career Planning
At first glance, a canceled survey may not seem tied to your financial life. However, FEVS results often highlight the types of stressors, such as morale, retention, and workload, that ripple into pay decisions, retention incentives, and career growth opportunities. When leadership lacks insight into these challenges, it can impact how agencies design programs that support your long-term well-being.
For federal-focused financial planners, workplace data is more than a statistic. At Serving Those Who Serve, we use these trends to help Feds think strategically about job stability, retention benefits, and how career choices connect to retirement goals. Losing a year of FEVS data means fewer signals about how agencies are responding to workforce pressures, and that uncertainty matters for planning.
What You Can Do Instead
Even without FEVS, your voice still matters. You can:
- Connect with your agency’s HR office to ask about internal surveys or other feedback opportunities.
- Suggest or participate in “pulse surveys” that many agencies run in smaller cycles.
- Tap into your union or employee network to share concerns and push for workplace improvements.
On the financial side, it helps to keep your own plan flexible. You don’t need government-wide data to take stock of your career, your benefits, or your retirement goals. Reach out to the team at Serving Those Who Serve at [email protected] if you’d like support navigating these decisions without waiting for system-level feedback.
Moving Forward Without FEVS
The 2025 FEVS cancellation doesn’t take away your voice. You can still share input, raise concerns, and shape your workplace in other ways. That might mean using agency channels, leaning on peer networks, or taking part in smaller surveys that keep feedback flowing.
And remember, even though this year’s survey data is missing, it doesn’t take away your ability to take charge of your career and financial plan. Serving Those Who Serve is here to help you stay prepared, even when the bigger system feels unpredictable.
Reach out to the team at Serving Those Who Serve at [email protected] if you’d like guidance on navigating your benefits and planning your next steps.
The information has been obtained from sources considered reliable but we do not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete. Any opinions are those of Serving Those Who Serve writers and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James. Any information is not a complete summary or statement of all available data necessary for making an investment decision and does not constitute a recommendation. Investing involves risk and you may incur a profit or loss regardless of strategy suggested. Every investor’s situation is unique and you should consider your investment goals, risk tolerance, and time horizon before making any investment or financial decision. Prior to making an investment decision, please consult with your financial advisor about your individual situation. While we are familiar with the tax provisions of the issues presented herein, as Financial Advisors of RJFS, we are not qualified to render advice on tax or legal matters. You should discuss tax or legal matters with the appropriate professional. **
