Overview

• Söder argues the downsizing is needed because roughly 40% of the state budget goes to public-sector pay.
• He cites artificial intelligence and bureaucracy reduction as the primary tools to achieve the staff cuts.
• Education changes under consideration include tightening part-time options for trained teachers and rethinking lateral hires.
• Staff reductions would also hit ministries and the Staatskanzlei, and savings are sought by closing costly asylum accommodations and pursuing more returns, including deportations to Afghanistan and Syria.
• The Bavarian SPD’s Holger Grießhammer denounced the plan and urged better digital services instead, and no legislation has been introduced yet.