The Trump administration has initiated plans to reduce staffing levels across US intelligence agencies, including a targeted cut of up to 1,200 employees at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
The proposed reductions are intended to align agency operations more closely with the administration’s national security priorities, according to internal sources.
These workforce reductions, described as gradual and strategic rather than sweeping, are part of a larger governmental effort to shrink the federal bureaucracy.
The CIA, which has traditionally kept its staffing levels confidential, faces restructuring at a time when the United States is contending with intensifying international threats.
Strategic Workforce Cuts Aim to Reshape Intelligence Priorities
According to NBC News, officials familiar with the plans revealed that the downsizing at the CIA is intended to affect between 1,000 and 1,200 employees. These figures are based on briefings provided to lawmakers and reflect an internal restructuring agenda rather than mass layoffs.
Although the agency has not confirmed precise figures, leaked documents from 2013 indicated a workforce exceeding 21,000 personnel, providing a benchmark for the scale of the proposed cuts.
A CIA spokesperson stated that Director John Ratcliffe is acting “swiftly to ensure the CIA workforce is responsive to the Administration’s national security priorities.”
Measures to reduce staff reportedly include reduced hiring, voluntary early retirements, and financial incentives—so-called “buyout” packages—for eligible employees. Notably, the agency has emphasised that no mass firings are planned.
This approach stands in contrast to cuts proposed in other federal bodies, such as the U.S. Agency for International Development, where the reduction efforts were described as more extensive.
The restructuring at the CIA, while significant, is being presented as a targeted refinement rather than a dismantling of the agency.
Broader Downsizing Aligns With Federal Workforce Reduction Goals
The CIA is not the only intelligence body affected by the administration’s broader campaign to reduce federal civilian staff.
Other intelligence agencies—those operating under the Department of Defense budget—are also preparing to implement reductions of up to 8%, aligning with the Pentagon’s goal of scaling down non-military staff, according to former intelligence officials.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), which coordinates the work of U.S. intelligence agencies, is likewise undergoing streamlining.
At a Cabinet meeting, Director Tulsi Gabbard noted that her office is now “25% smaller and more lean” than when she assumed the role in February.
While she did not provide details, her earlier Senate testimony supported reducing the size of the ODNI as part of a broader efficiency drive.
