The number of positions in the Chancellor’s Office has increased by around 10 percent since Olaf Scholz (SPD) took office. This is evident from the response to a question from CDU member Matthias Hauer to the German government, reported by the Süddeutsche Zeitung. According to the response from State Minister Sarah Ryglewski (SPD), 775 people were employed in the Chancellor’s Office at the time of Angela Merkel’s departure. “As of January 14, 2025, 852 people were employed in the Chancellor’s Office” the response states. Additionally, 23 officials have been promoted since Scholz took office, including those who joined the Chancellor’s Office with him.
Just before the end of the legislative period, a promotion offensive is underway in some ministries, although not on the same scale as in previous federal governments. The “Operation Abendsonne” is not being implemented as extensively this time, according to opposition experts. The reason cited is the early federal election and the lack of time for additional promotion procedures, as well as the absence of a federal budget following the collapse of the coalition.
The Foreign Office, led by Annalena Baerbock (Greens), is the leader in promotions since the coalition breakdown, with 61 promotions. This is followed by the Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, led by Svenja Schulze (SPD), with 26 positions, although these promotions were already planned before the coalition breakdown, according to the ministry. The Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, led by Hubertus Heil (SPD), has provided 18 employees with higher positions.
From the perspective of the Federation of Taxpayers, it would be necessary for the next federal government to consider a cabinet reform. Instead of 15 ministries plus the Chancellor’s Office, the lobby organization suggests that there should be only 10 ministries, for example, through the merger of economics and development, as well as environment and agriculture and new ministries for family and education and for infrastructure. In 2012, there were only 18,500 civil servants and employees in the ministries, today around 30,000 – this number should decline to around 20,000 in the medium term and the number of particularly well-paid parliamentary state secretaries should be reduced from 37 to around 13. President Reiner Holznagel criticizes the government for having “installed an XXL state administration.” Government and administrative efficiency should focus more on quality and not just on the number of civil servants. “A cabinet reform would be a good start for Germany.