The U.S. Justice Department has reduced its workforce by more than 4,000 employees across key law-enforcement agencies, even as the administration pledged a tougher stance on crime, according to records obtained by Reuters. Staffing at the Federal Bureau of Investigation has dropped by over 7% since fiscal year 2024, amounting to around 2,600 positions. The Drug Enforcement Administration saw a decline of about 6%, while the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives experienced a sharper reduction of approximately 14%.
Other divisions within the department have faced even steeper losses. The National Security Division, responsible for handling intelligence and terrorism-related cases, has lost nearly 38% of its workforce, citing “unprecedented personnel constraints” in sensitive areas such as espionage and export control enforcement. Overall, the Justice Department now employs roughly 107,000 people—about 11,200 fewer than before President Donald Trump began his second term in January 2025. Officials say buyouts and hiring challenges have left around 7,000 positions unfilled, contributing to operational strain across multiple units.
Critics argue that the downsizing undermines the administration’s law-and-order agenda, pointing to declining federal prosecutions, particularly in drug trafficking cases, which have fallen to their lowest level in over two decades. While Justice Department spokesperson Natalie Baldassarre defended the cuts, claiming they removed underperforming staff and did not hinder crime-fighting capabilities, former officials and experts warn the reductions could weaken national security, civil rights enforcement, and prison management. Meanwhile, increased focus on immigration enforcement has diverted resources, raising concerns about the long-term impact on broader law-enforcement priorities.
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