Staff reductions, information technology modernization and funding shifts are slated to transform parts of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration this year and next.
The FMCSA’s upcoming budget for fiscal year 2026, which begins Oct. 1, details the overhaul in its IT costs and reorganized personnel. The Department of Transportation posted the document online and said it was updated May 30.
A line item suggested overall FMCSA staffing will decrease by 89 full-time equivalent positions, from 1,207 to 1,118, but many areas will not have any FTE changes.
FMCSA proposes reorganizing staff across parts of agency
| FMCSA segment | FY 2025 enacted budget (full-time equivalents) | FY 2026 requested budget (FTEs) |
|---|---|---|
| Office of the Administrator | 92 | 41 |
| Office of Administration | 88 | 73 |
| Office of the Chief Technology Officer | 23 | 0 |
Consistent FMCSA staffing was described for the Office of Safety (852 FTEs), Office of Policy (44 FTEs), Office of Research and Registration (33 FTEs) and Office of the Chief Financial Officer (25 FTEs). Source: FMCSA Budget Estimates for Fiscal Year 2026.
The agency said the budgetary shifts are part of a reorganization to improve efficiency.
The FMCSA also suggested an existing Working Capital Fund for the Department of Transportation is helping the realignment. Referred to as WCF, the shared DOT fund is helping to "centrally consolidate the management of" certain IT services, the FMCSA said.
At the same time, the agency is requesting an increase of over $40 million for its Working Capital Fund line items.
FMCSA budget suggests IT shift to shared DOT fund
| Category | Item | FY 2025 enacted budget | FY 2026 requested budget |
|---|---|---|---|
| Programs | Information Technology | $64.8 million | $0 |
| Programs | -WCF IT (Commodity IT) | $34.3 million | $34.3 million |
| Programs | -WCF IT (Programmatic IT) | $0 | $28.8 million |
| Administrative expenses | Other Services: - WCF | $12.4 million | $23.7 million |
Source: FMCSA Budget Estimates for Fiscal Year 2026.
Additionally, the agency also seeks to modernize its technology systems, including the following:
- Overhauling safety investigation and crash data capabilities in fiscal year 2026 so federal and state partners can complete investigative duties “from a single interface, instead of having to log onto multiple systems separately,” according to the budget document.
- Releasing a new federal registration system called Motus this calendar year. The agency’s registration division is overseeing the new system.
- Improving a National Consumer Complaint Database and IT infrastructure that’s “crucial for combating fraud, maintaining data integrity, and supporting effective safety oversight,” the budget document said.
