1,200 CIA employees to be laid off

Approximately 80 recently hired CIA employees were laid off in March 2025, and the agency is also dismissing officers who worked on diversity issues, though a federal judge has temporarily halted this process.

The CIA plans to use natural attrition, such as retirements and resignations, for the next round of layoffs. A CIA spokesperson did not directly confirm the reduction plan but stated that Director John Ratcliffe is acting swiftly to ensure the agency aligns with the U.S. government's priorities.

The layoffs were previously reported by The Washington Post. The CIA does not officially disclose its employee numbers, but it is estimated to have around 22,000 staff.

Other intelligence agencies, including the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the National Security Agency, are also planning workforce reductions.

The Washington Post, citing informed sources, reported that President Donald Trump intends to implement widespread layoffs across U.S. intelligence institutions. These layoffs include 1,200 CIA positions and thousands more from other parts of the intelligence community.

The U.S. government recently informed Congress of plans to reduce the CIA's workforce by approximately 1,200 employees over several years, with thousands more cuts planned across other intelligence sectors, including the National Security Agency, a highly secretive service specializing in cryptography and global electronic espionage.