Hundreds of Jobs Lost as Defra Moves to Tighten Its Budget

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has reduced its workforce by 10 per cent, cutting 750 positions as part of the Government’s broader plan to rein in operating costs over the next five years. According to The Telegraph, the move is expected to save more than £30 million annually in salary expenses. Those savings are expected to be redirected into projects aimed at improving water quality across the United Kingdom.

The staffing reduction makes a noticeable dent in one of the largest government ministries. Over the past year alone, more than 750 posts have been removed from Defra. The Telegraph reports that the department’s headcount has grown significantly over the past decade, climbing from roughly 1,700 employees in 2016 to more than 7,300 by last year.

The cuts are part of a larger Government cost reduction strategy worth over £2 billion in office expenses spread across the next five years. In March, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that operating costs for all departments would be cut by 15 per cent. This could result in as many as 10,000 jobs being lost across the public sector. Internal documents revealed in June confirmed that Defra planned to reduce its headcount by 5 per cent in the current financial year. Its “Efficiency Plans” state that staffing levels had already fallen by about 8 per cent since July 2024 and will drop by a further 5 per cent during 2025 and 2026.

Elsewhere in government, the PA news agency has reported that the Cabinet Office is considering reducing the number of UK Security Vetting staff from 900 to 780.

The Environment Agency is also feeling the squeeze. In October, staff were informed that the regulator would reduce jobs following a decline in revenue. The agency is aiming to reduce its workforce by 1,700 within a year. One of the contributing factors, according to reports, is a near 10 per cent cut to its budget by Defra.