Secretary of Defense: “We Can Reduce the Civilian Workforce”

Today, Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-42) questioned Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter about the unbalanced number of civilian employees in the Defense Department relative to the number of uniformed soldiers. During the exchange, Secretary Carter agreed with Rep. Calvert's concerns about the efficiency in the department's civilian workforce. Secretary Carter was testifying before the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.

"Well actually I'm with you," said Secretary Carter. "I think we should go after excess wherever we find it in the Department. And the civilian workforce, like the military personnel end-strength has to be something that we scrutinize and reduce. And I think we can reduce the civilian workforce."

"I am encouraged by Secretary Carter's comments that he is interested in improving the efficiency of his department's civilian workforce so we can then invest those savings into military end-strength and readiness," said Rep. Calvert. "I want to pass legislation that gives Secretary Carter the ability to shape and mold his workforce in an effective way."

Rep. Calvert has introduced legislation aimed at creating a more efficient civilian workforce at the Department of Defense (DOD).The Rebalance for an Effective Defense Uniform and Civilian Employees (REDUCE) Act (H.R. 340)would require the DOD to make civilian workforce reductions in a systematic manner without compromising our ability to maintain a strong national defense over the long term.

Currently there are 776,841 civilian employees at the DOD as compared to 644,000 in 2004, an increase of 132,841. By comparison, from 2004 to 2014 the Active Duty military component went from 1,428,000 to 1,331,000, a reduction of 97,000.

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