Overview

• The White House has formally notified Congress of plans to cut 1,200 CIA positions and additional roles at the NSA over the coming years.
• The reductions will occur primarily through attrition, voluntary buyouts, and hiring freezes rather than mass layoffs.
• CIA Director John Ratcliffe describes the cuts as part of a holistic strategy to realign the agency’s workforce with national security priorities.
• The initiative is part of a larger federal cost-saving effort led by President Trump and Elon Musk, which has already seen tens of thousands of federal employees depart since January 2025.
• Legal challenges are emerging over the impact of these cuts on diversity programs within the intelligence agencies.