Trump to Cut 1,200 CIA Jobs, Thousands More at NSA, DIA, NRO, NGA Over Several Years
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The Trump administration has announced plans to reduce the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) workforce by approximately 1,200 positions, or about 5% of its estimated 22,000 staff, over several years. The reductions will be achieved mainly through attrition, including early retirements—about 500 employees—voluntary resignations, and reduced hiring, with no direct layoffs planned.
Thousands of additional positions are set to be eliminated across other U.S. intelligence agencies, including the National Security Agency (NSA), Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), and National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). The administration has informed Congress of these plans.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe, in a March memo to staff, stated the restructuring aims to align the agency with administration national security priorities, emphasizing human intelligence and increased attention to China and drug cartels. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has also reported a 25% reduction in her office's workforce.
The cuts are separate from government-wide restructuring efforts led by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by Elon Musk. The CIA and other agencies have offered buyouts, and a federal judge has temporarily blocked the firing of some employees involved in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. In March, 80 recently hired CIA employees were let go.
Critics, including Senator Mark R. Warner, warn the reductions could weaken U.S. national security and increase counterintelligence risks, as adversaries like Russia and China may target affected intelligence personnel for recruitment.
Trump Admin Plans to Cut CIA Workforce and Other US Intel Agencies | Anthony Gonzalez, Interesting Engineering
The Trump administration is moving forward with plans to reduce the workforce at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and other major U.S. intelligence agencies, https://t.co/qFKnMD7ufJ
