In the first year of President Donald Trump’s second term, the federal government saw a significant reduction in workforce size and payroll expenses, according to figures released by a taxpayer watchdog group. Data from OpenTheBooks indicates that the federal employee count decreased by approximately 53,700, dropping from 1,506,603 in 2024 to 1,452,891 in 2025. This decline marks a notable contrast to the final year of the previous administration, during which the federal workforce increased by more than 13,000 employees.

Alongside the workforce reduction, federal payroll expenditures declined by nearly $1.9 billion during the same period. The group reported that federal salary payments fell from the previous year’s levels, a downturn that contrasts sharply with a more than $10 billion increase in payroll expenses observed during the final year under President Joe Biden.

The numbers reflect broader efforts under the Trump administration to downsize the federal government and reduce associated costs. However, the dataset excludes employee counts and salary expenses for the Department of War and the United States Postal Service, which remain outside the scope of this analysis.

The figures underscore a shift in federal employment and spending priorities since 2024, though officials from the current administration have defended the adjustments as necessary realignments. Critics argue that reductions may impact government services and staff capacity. The ongoing changes reflect the differing approaches to federal workforce management between the two administrations.