How Many Federal Workers Are There In Total?

As of November 2024, the U.S. federal government employed just over 3 million individuals, marking the highest level of federal employment since September 1994 . This workforce includes both civilian and military personnel across various departments and agencies.

Of these, approximately 2.3 million are full-time civilian employees . The largest concentrations of federal workers are found in the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Homeland Security.

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It's important to note that recent initiatives, such as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led by Elon Musk, have aimed to reduce the size of the federal workforce through voluntary buyouts and layoffs . However, the full impact of these efforts on overall federal employment numbers remains to be seen.

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President Donald J. Trump has signed a new Executive Order advancing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative to streamline the federal workforce.

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Driving Efficiency and Accountability

• This Executive Order empowers federal agencies to operate more efficiently by focusing on essential roles and holding employees to the highest standards of conduct.
• Agency leaders will work closely with DOGE to reduce the size of the federal workforce.
• Hiring will be limited to positions deemed essential for mission-critical operations.
• The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) will begin the rulemaking process to enforce stricter performance and conduct standards.

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Strategic Workforce Reduction

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The order sets a clear path to a leaner federal government:

For every four employees who leave federal service, agencies will be allowed to hire only one replacement — with key exceptions for national security, public safety, law enforcement, and immigration functions.

Agencies are instructed to create plans for significant reductions in force, including identifying offices or entire agencies that may be consolidated or eliminated if their functions are not required by law.

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A Smaller, More Focused Government

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President Trump remains committed to reducing the federal government’s size and scope:

• The civilian federal workforce currently exceeds 2.4 million — excluding active-duty military and Postal Service employees.
• The Federal Register lists more than 400 agencies, though the exact number is unclear.
• In FY2022 alone, civilian compensation costs reached nearly $300 billion, not including pension obligations.
• A recent congressional report revealed that only 6% of federal workers report to the office full-time.

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Building on Proven Results

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President Trump’s first term laid the foundation for bold government reform through extensive deregulation and pro-growth policies. His second term aims to build on those achievements with meaningful workforce restructuring, reducing unnecessary bureaucracy while enhancing accountability and performance across the federal government.

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How Many US Federal Workers are There?

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As of recent data, there are approximately 2.2 million civilian federal workers in the United States. This number does not include:

• Postal workers (around 600,000 employees under the U.S. Postal Service)
• Active duty military personnel (about 1.3 million)

So if you include all federal employees—civilian, military, and postal—the total rises to around 4.1 million.

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"The size of the federal workforce has evolved significantly over time. Federal employment reached its highest point in May 1990, with 3.4 million employees.

This data reflects the monthly number of federal government workers from January 1939 to November 2024."

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As of November 2024, the U.S. federal government employed just over 3 million individuals, marking the highest level of federal employment since September 1994 . This workforce includes both civilian and military personnel across various departments and agencies.

Of these, approximately 2.3 million are full-time civilian employees . The largest concentrations of federal workers are found in the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Homeland Security .

It's important to note that recent initiatives, such as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led by Elon Musk, have aimed to reduce the size of the federal workforce through voluntary buyouts and layoffs . However, the full impact of these efforts on overall federal employment numbers remains to be seen.

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What percent of the population works for the federal government?

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As of late 2024, approximately 2.3 million people are employed as full-time civilian federal employees. When you include military personnel, the total federal workforce rises to just over 3 million.

The U.S. population is roughly 335 million people. So, to calculate the percentage:

335,000,0003,000,000≈0.009

That means about 0.9% of the U.S. population works for the federal government.

If you're only counting civilian employees (2.3 million), it's closer to 0.7%.

Let me know if you want to see how that compares to other countries or levels of government (like state or local)!

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Fewer than 2% of all jobs are within the federal government.

Where do federal employees work?

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By Agency

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Federal employees are spread across many departments and agencies. Some of the largest include:

• Department of Defense (DoD) – Includes civilian workers supporting the military. Largest employer by far.
• Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) – Hospitals, clinics, and administrative offices.
• Department of Homeland Security (DHS) – Includes agencies like TSA, ICE, and Customs and Border Protection.
• Department of the Treasury – Including the IRS.
• U.S. Postal Service (USPS) – Though technically an independent agency, it employs over 600,000 people.
• Department of Justice (DOJ) – Includes FBI, U.S. Marshals, and Bureau of Prisons.
• Social Security Administration (SSA) – Field offices across the country.

🌎 By Location

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While Washington, D.C. is the symbolic hub of federal operations, only about 15% of federal employees actually work there.

Around 85% of federal civilian workers are spread throughout the U.S., including:

• Regional offices
• Military bases
• Federal prisons
• Veterans hospitals
• National parks and forests
• Customs and border posts
• IRS and Social Security field offices

Also read - trump child care tax credit 2025

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Which states have the most federal workers?

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1. California

• Why: Major military bases, large VA network, federal courts, IRS centers, and national parks.
• Approximate federal workers: Over 170,000

🥈 2. Virginia

• Why: Close proximity to Washington, D.C.; home to the Pentagon and other defense-related agencies.
• Approximate federal workers: Around 150,000

🥉 3. Texas

• Why: Numerous military installations, VA facilities, DHS presence at the border, and federal courthouses.
• Approximate federal workers: Over 140,000

4. Maryland

• Why: Hosts many major federal agencies like the NIH, NSA, and parts of NASA. Close to D.C.
• Approximate federal workers: Over 140,000

5. Florida

• Why: Military bases, VA hospitals, and a large retiree population needing federal services.
• Approximate federal workers: Around 100,000 

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Other states with large federal workforces include:

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• Georgia – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) HQ is here.
• Pennsylvania – Strong VA and SSA presence.
• New York – Federal courts, homeland security, and IRS offices.
• Washington state – National laboratories and defense installations.
• Arizona – Border security, VA, and defense operations.

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In Washington, DC, 43.3% of the workforce is employed by the federal government.

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Conclusion:

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The U.S. federal workforce, made up of around 2.2 million civilian employees, plays a vital role in the day-to-day functioning and long-term stability of the nation. From public safety and national security to healthcare and environmental protection, federal workers serve in nearly every sector of American life, ensuring that government services remain efficient, effective, and accessible to all citizens.

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