Cabinet wants 25,000 fewer civil servants, excluding police and defense

The Dutch government plans to reduce its workforce by 25,000 civil servants by 2035, aiming for a 16% cut from the current 160,000. Secretary Van der Burg emphasizes the need for simplification of regulations to achieve this goal, while police and defense will remain unaffected. The government intends to streamline services, standardize ICT systems, and implement efficiency measures, including AI. However, Van der Burg acknowledges that merely working more efficiently is insufficient; significant choices about government functions must be made. The cabinet is also considering cutting advisory bodies to save administrative capacity, with plans expected to be finalized within six months, targeting annual savings of 3.5 billion euros by 2035.