The federal government just got a lot smaller. New Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows the federal civilian workforce has fallen to about 2.7 million employees — the lowest level in 60 years — after shedding more than 300,000 jobs, roughly 11%, since President Trump returned to office in January 2025.
Most of the cuts landed in the first year. The single biggest event came in late September 2025, when more than 150,000 federal employees accepted buyout offers — described as the largest one-year exodus of civil servants in nearly 80 years. The Departments of Education, Agriculture, and Housing and Urban Development saw the deepest reductions. The Department of Homeland Security was the notable exception, with headcount barely moving — consistent with the administration's immigration enforcement priorities.
Trump campaigned on shrinking the government and gave Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency wide latitude to cut payrolls. Supporters call it a long-overdue correction; critics warn that slashing so fast risks degrading government services — and note the government has yet to show clear savings to match the smaller payroll.
What to watch next: whether federal employment holds steady through 2026, and whether the promised savings ever materialize.