The role of the MSPB as the independent, bipartisan protector of the Federal merit systems is essential to ensuring the American people that their Federal civil servants are well qualified to perform their work and able to effectively serve the public. The MSPB has two statutory functions – to provide for independent adjudication of appeals of personnel actions for over 2 million Federal employees; and to conduct studies of the Federal merit systems and other human capital management issues to ensure that employees are managed effectively and efficiently, in accordance with the merit principles, and free from prohibited personnel practices.

The agency is divided into several functional offices and organized according to its statutory missions. In addition to the three-member appointed Board, the MSPB has approximately 230 employees assigned to the Washington headquarters, and six region and two field offices located throughout the United States.