The National Security Agency (NSA) has reached its goal of cutting roughly 2,000 positions this year. Three individuals directly familiar with the agency’s internal policies confirmed the target was met through a mix of forced layoffs, voluntary departures, and buyout programs offering incentives for early retirement. The sources spoke on the condition of anonymity, pointing to the sensitive nature of NSA staffing figures.
The staff cuts mark a substantial shift for the NSA, one of America’s largest intelligence agencies. This workforce reduction is part of a broader effort launched during the second Trump administration to streamline staffing across federal departments and eliminate overlapping functions within the intelligence community. The exact personnel strength of the NSA following these reductions is a closely held secret, withheld to safeguard national security and prevent foreign powers from using the data to gauge U.S. intelligence resources and priorities.
Nevertheless, a 2024 report from the State of Maryland, issued by its Department of Budget and Management, indicates that the NSA, headquartered at Fort Meade, Maryland, has approximately 39,000 civilian and military personnel on its payroll.
A spokesperson for the NSA declined to comment on the matter.