# FMCS Finalizes Arbitrator Rule

The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) finalized a rule governing when it may decline or delay requests to appoint arbitrators for certain federal-agency labor grievances, including disputes involving agencies affected by presidential collective-bargaining orders. The change concerns federal labor-relations procedures; the signal identifies no new contractor certification, reporting, bidding, or contract-performance requirement and describes no direct change to contractor eligibility.

- Procurement teams should treat this as an agency workforce and labor-relations development, not as a new solicitation or contractor compliance requirement.
- Contractors should not infer new procurement obligations from the rule; its stated scope is the processing of arbitrator requests for federal-agency grievances.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Topics:** Policy
**Published:** October 28, 2026

### Government Entities
- Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS)
- Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA)
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

### Key Quotes
> This isn’t novel—contracts are routinely enforced after they expire over events that occurred during their effect.
> — Suzanne Summerlin, independent labor attorney

### Sources
- [Mediation agency finalizes rule allowing denial of arbitrator requests - Government Executive](https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2026/10/mediation-agency-finalizes-rule-allowing-denial-arbitrator-requests/416893) - GovExec.com