Trump executive team intends to trim agency workforce at intelligence services by thousands
Stripped Down Spy Games
The Trump admin's ambitious plans for the CIA involve slicing the workforce by thousands over several years, potentially affecting up to 1,200 employees, according to confidential sources. This downsizing spree, though, is way more precise compared to the admin's mass axing strategies at other federal departments. Agencies such as the U.S. Agency for International Development have faced a near-total demolition.
The method, a calibrated cost-cutting technique, targets the CIA primarily. The Washington Post broke the news on this personnel chunking first.
The CIA has a history of keeping a lid on its workforce numbers, but leaked documents from 2013 revealed they had over 21,000 employees. The agency declined to comment on the specifics of its impending headcount reduction. It's unclear how this reshuffling will affect various departments.
A CIA spokesperson confirmed Director John Ratcliffe was focused on making the agency leaner to fit the administration's national security priorities. The spokesperson added, "These moves will revitalize the agency, establish opportunities for young leaders, and optimize the CIA to fulfill its duties."
Other intelligence agencies, though not directly under the CIA's wing, are aligning with the Defense Department's aim to prune the civilian workforce by up to 8%. The strategy for achieving this target involves a combination of buyouts, retiring employees earlier, and offering incentives for ready-to-quit staff to leave this year,, all without resorting to massive layoffs.
These alterations come at a critical juncture, with potential security challenges looming from the rising power of China's military, Russia's sabotage activities in Europe and involvement in the Ukraine conflict, and Iran's continued development of its nuclear program.
At a recent White House Cabinet meeting, the Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, announced her office was already 25% slimmer than when she took over in mid-February. Gabbard did not provide further details.
During her Senate confirmation hearing in January, Gabbard voiced support for trimming the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which oversees the country's spy agencies. Contacted for comment, the ODNI remained unresponsive.
The workforce reductions are part of a broader scheme by the Trump administration and Elon Musk's advisory Department of Government Efficiency to drastically shrink the federal workforce. Although the administration attempts to dodge widespread layoffs, it has initially targeted employees assigned to diversity programs. A group of the employees challenged their dismissals in court, resulting in a temporary injunction from a federal judge in March halting the firings. The CIA volunteered buyouts to its staff in February.
[1] https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/intelligence/trump-administration-plans-significant-cuts-u-s-intelligence-agencies-sources-n1231306[2] https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/trump-administration-to-significantly-reduce-cia-workforce-across-us-intelligence-agencies/2020/05/27/a5126776-5c66-11ea-a5bd-0b0c95ec17fe_story.html
- The CIA has announced plans to reduce its workforce, with up to 1,200 employees potentially affected, as part of cutbacks proposed by the Trump administration.
- The CIA's Director, John Ratcliffe, is focusing on making the agency leaner to fit the administration's national security priorities, which may involve funding incentives for employees to resign earlier or take buyouts.
- The announcements of these workforce reductions come amidst heightened political tension and general-news concerns about potential security challenges from countries like China, Russia, and Iran.
- Intelligence agencies, including those not directly under the CIA's jurisdiction, are aligning with the Defense Department's aim to cut the civilian workforce by up to 8%, mainly through buyouts, retiring employees earlier, and offering incentives for early resignations.
