Efficiency targets and headcount reductions
The Dutch government intends to cut roughly 25,000 civil servant jobs to save 3.5 billion euros per year by 2035. While police and defence are exempt, ministries, inspectorates and implementing agencies could see headcount reductions of up to 60%. The plan has drawn international comparisons regarding the feasibility of using artificial intelligence to automate public sector tasks and reduce state payrolls. Observers note that while governments explore AI tools to handle administrative workloads, they also face challenges including increased automated complaints from citizens, data sovereignty concerns, and strong trade union resistance.