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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Rowena Mason Whitehall editor

MoD to cut more than 5,000 civil service jobs in drive to reduce costs

Building with Ministry of Defence sign
The department is aiming to lose 10% of its staff by the end of the parliament. Photograph: James Veysey/REX/Shutterstock

More than 5,000 civil service jobs are set to go at the Ministry of Defence in a drive to cut costs, prompting alarm among trade unions.

David Williams, the permanent secretary, said the department was aiming to lose 10% of its 56,800 staff by the end of the parliament. It has already shed thousands under the previous government through a hiring freeze that was due to end in March 2025.

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