US Government Workforce Falls 12% Since Sept 2024

According to data published on Wednesdays, the US government's civilian workforce fell by 12% between September 2024 and January 2026, reflecting President Donald Trump's and the Department of Government Efficiency's efforts to reduce the size of federal agencies. He even argued that many government departments have too many employees who need to be reduced to make work more efficient.

Data from the federal government's HR office, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), says that most workers who quit their jobs did so of their own choice, and many decided to resign or take early retirement, while some lost their jobs due to layoffs.

Some of the most topped positions that left government jobs after Trump took office in January 2025 were administrative staff, customer service representatives, and IT managers. OPM Director Scott Kupor said in a statement that, "This effort ensures taxpayer dollars support a workforce that delivers efficient, responsive ​and high-quality services."

Trump also approachElon Musk for help with his plan through the team known as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Musk worked with that administration to reduce jobs, but later on, he left in May 2025.

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This job cut affected many government departments, such as the US Department of the Treasury, which saw a 24% decrease in staff, and the US Department of Health and Human Services, which saw about a 20% decrease. However, the US Department of Homeland Security was an exception and slightly increased by less than 1%, mainly because this agency focused on hiring more staff for immigration enforcement and border security.

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