CIA and Intelligence Agencies Face Major Workforce Reduction

The Trump government revealed its intent in action to consider layoffs on a grand scale, under which agencies of the U.S. intelligent community are to lay off personnel. It has even been said that the CIA would shed about 1 200 posts over a few years. So will the NSA and all the other intelligence organizations.

It appeared that the layoff program would mainly involve hiring freeze rather than instant dismissals of the employees in CIA, among whom several hundreds have chosen to early retire. The administration has disclosed these reductions to members of Congress.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe stated the changes are part of a “holistic strategy” designed to:

• Align the agency with President Trump’s national security priorities
• Infuse the organization with “renewed energy”
• Create opportunities for emerging leaders
• Better position the CIA to fulfill its mission

The CIA was the first among federal intelligence agencies in the U.S. to adopt a voluntary redundancy program that is designed by Trump to downsize the federal workforce for increased efficiency and economy. Since then, the National Security Agency has joined the same programs of voluntary resignations of some employees.