Executive Summary

On 24 June 2026, the Federal Council decided on key parameters for a new security service duty. Civil protection and civil service are to be merged into a disaster protection organization to secure personnel levels in the long term. Parliament issued the mandate in 2025. The federal government is now consulting the cantons on the key parameters. A constitutional revision and popular vote are required; implementation at the earliest in 2031/2032.

Persons

  • Federal Council (collectively)

Topics

  • Security policy
  • Population protection
  • Military and civil service
  • Federalism

Clarus Lead

Switzerland is responding to looming personnel shortages in the armed forces and civil protection with a fundamental reorganization of its protection structures. Civil protection currently has only 57,000 instead of the required 72,000 members; the armed forces see their personnel levels at risk within a few years. Through the merger into a disaster protection organization under cantonal leadership with expanded responsibilities, the federal government hopes to reduce departures to civil service while simultaneously expanding capacity for disaster management – a model that redistributes federal competencies and requires overcoming significant constitutional hurdles.

Detailed Summary

The new security service duty provides for the creation of a disaster protection organization alongside the armed forces, in which the existing organizations of civil protection and civil service will be merged. The disaster protection organization is to achieve a target strength of 72,000 and an actual strength of 96,000 members. Military service remains mandatory exclusively for Swiss men – either in the armed forces or in disaster protection. Conscientious objections will continue to be resolved through civilian alternative service in disaster protection, with longer service duration than in the military (proof by action).

The cantons receive primary responsibility for planning and conducting disaster protection operations. Only in case of armed conflict does the federal government assume this task. Regarding basic and officer training as well as material procurement, the Federal Council proposes federal-wide responsibility; refresher courses remain with the cantons. Responsibility for civilian activities (former civil service) remains open and will be clarified with the cantons. The Department of Defence (VBS) has been tasked with consulting the cantons before the consultation document is prepared. A constitutional revision and popular vote are required; if approved, implementation in 2031 or 2032 is realistic.

Key Points

  • The Federal Council merges civil protection and civil service into a cantonal disaster protection organization to address personnel shortages.
  • Military service obligation remains limited to Swiss men; conscientious objections are resolved through extended alternative service.
  • Federal task distribution: cantons conduct operations, federal government is responsible for training and material; financing still open.
  • Constitutional revision and popular vote necessary; earliest implementation 2031/2032.

Critical Questions

  1. Evidence/Data Quality: On what forecasts is the assumption based that armed forces personnel levels are "at risk within a few years"? Are these scenarios publicly accessible?

  2. Conflicts of Interest: To what extent does the Federal Council take canton interests into account in the merger if basic and officer training are centralized at the federal level?

  3. Causality: Will the merger actually reduce departures of military service conscripts to civil service, or could more attractive civil service design exacerbate the problem?

  4. Feasibility: How are 96,000 actual personnel in the disaster protection operational organization to be financed and meaningfully deployed during normal times?

  5. Alternatives: Were models without constitutional revision (e.g., voluntary supplementation or incentive structures) seriously evaluated?

  6. Side Effects: Could centralization of training and material lead to standardization deficits in cantonal risk scenarios that differ regionally?

Source Directory

Primary Source: Security Service Duty: Federal Council Decides on Key Parameters – news.admin.ch, 24.06.2026

Verification Status: ✓ 24.06.2026

This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-checking: 24.06.2026