Dutch Government Plans to Eliminate 25,000 Jobs in AI-Driven Cost-Cutting Drive

The Dutch government unveiled an ambitious plan to cut 25,000 civil service positions—roughly 16% of its 160,000-person workforce—by 2035, targeting €3.5 billion in annual savings through AI deployment and structural reform. State Secretary Eric van der Burg announced the initiative, aiming to reduce payroll by €900 million annually by 2027, accelerating to €3.5 billion from 2035 onward. The cuts represent a dramatic rightsizing of government administration, which has expanded significantly since 2018, with policy-making staff growing 56% and implementation personnel increasing 28%.