In 2024, a federal personnel reserve in the civil service was established as provided for in legislation adopted exactly two decades ago. Thus, the formation of a vertical of reserves has been completed, parallel to which there are managerial reserves that are largely similar in purpose and new quasi-reserves are appearing (for example, the “Leaders of Russia” competition). In the article we analyze trends in the personnel policy of the Russian Federation, taking into account the emergence of the federal reserve. Bibliometric analysis revealed a stable research interest in the problems of the civil service and reserves without direct connection with the reforms. Using chronological and comparative legal methods, we summarized stages of formation of the civil service reserves. When creating the federal reserve, problems were noted with the implementation of such functions as personnel retention and selection based on merit (meritocracy). We used an institutional approach to describe the cadre vertical in civil service and the place of the federal reserve in this vertical. We have proved that the federal reserve institutionalizes neopatrimonial practices and legitimizes subjectivity of certain officials of the Presidential Administration in the cadre vertical. Also, we used the SWOT analysis to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for the future of the cadre vertical. The conclusion is substantiated that the emergence of the federal reserve completes building an institutional model of national civil service. The cadre vertical has been developed and there are no visible prerequisites for its significant transformation. The request for changes is satisfied not by institutional reform of the civil service, but by an attempt to build a parallel institution of “public” service, ensuring the involvement of the public sector managers in the cadre vertical. Such changes continue the creation of a unified system of public authority, provided for in 2020 by amendments to the Constitution of the Russian Federation.