How staffing cuts in 2025 transformed the federal workforce
Federal News Network••nation
Key Points:
- The Trump administration’s efforts to downsize the federal workforce in 2025 led to a loss of over 317,000 employees, a 13.7% decrease from 2024, with a net staffing reduction of about 10.8% after hiring 68,000 new workers.
- Most departures (over 92%) were voluntary, primarily through the deferred resignation program (DRP), though critics argue many employees felt coerced to leave due to threats of firings and agency disruptions.
- Key agencies hit hardest include the Department of Defense (8% reduction), Treasury (28%, mostly IRS), and Agriculture (22%), with significant impacts on federal services such as food safety, veterans’ healthcare, and disaster response.
