SEC Announces Staff Cuts, Frozen Budget for Fiscal Year 2026

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is facing a period of budgetary constraints and staff reductions as it prepares for the new fiscal year. In its latest filing, the agency requested Congress to maintain its $2.15 billion budget for 2026, matching the previous year’s funding level. This comes with a significant workforce reduction: the SEC plans to shrink its full-time employee count by nearly 10%, from 4,548 positions down to 4,101. This decision reflects ongoing efforts to adapt to changing operations and financial constraints following hundreds of employees’ recent departures this year.