Federal workforce hits 60-year low — first time since LBJ

The federal civilian payroll is down to ~2.03 million — the smallest it's been since the mid-1960s, per BLS. That's an 11.8% drop from the October 2024 peak, or roughly 280,000 fewer federal employees in about 18 months.

Breakdown of how it happened (per OPM and the Partnership for Public Service):

• ~150,000+ took the deferred resignation / buyout offer
• Tens of thousands laid off outright (RIFs, probationary terminations)
• Rest: attrition, retirements, non-renewals

Trump's "you're fired" line is punchier than the truth — most left voluntarily with a check. But the structural result is real: the bureaucracy is the smallest it's been in 60 years while the country is more than twice the size it was in 1965.

Defense lost 60K+. Treasury 30K+. USDA 20K+.

Sources: BLS, Pew, Fox Business

Whatever you think of the methods, this is what it looks like when an administration actually uses executive authority to shrink the permanent state instead of just complaining about it.