# Russia’s State Duma and Federation Council to Reduce Administrative Staff Legislative bodies plan significant workforce cuts following a presidential decree on civil service efficiency. - **Source:** [Meduza English](https://meduza.io/en) - **Published:** 2026-11-06 - **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/e7f254ff-cdb1-4f4d-a03f-807973b94643 ## Legislative Staffing Reductions The Russian State Duma and Federation Council are preparing to reduce their central office staff numbers. Reports indicate that the State Duma plans cuts between 15% and 20%, while the Federation Council anticipates a 10% to 15% reduction. These measures aim to streamline administrative operations within Russia's primary legislative chambers. ## Strategic Implementation Methods Officials intend to execute these staff reductions carefully to avoid mass layoffs and high severance costs. The primary strategy involves eliminating currently vacant positions first. Additionally, the institutions will focus on employees reaching retirement age, ensuring a gradual transition that minimizes financial strain while still achieving the mandated personnel downsizing targets. ## Presidential Decree Origins These administrative changes stem from a decree signed by Vladimir Putin in October 2024. The directive mandates at least a 10% reduction in civil servants across various federal government agencies, including federal courts and judicial departments. This policy reflects a broader effort to optimize the size of Russia's federal administrative apparatus. ## Financial Incentive Structure The decree stipulates that funds saved through these staff cuts should be reallocated toward performance bonuses for remaining employees. By reducing the total headcount, the government aims to increase the compensation available for the retained workforce. This mechanism is designed to incentivize efficiency and reward productivity within the remaining civil service structure. ## Historical Staffing Context The exact current size of the State Duma and Federation Council staffs remains officially undisclosed. Historical data from February 2011, provided by former chairman Boris Gryzlov, indicated the State Duma maintained 1,482 positions at that time. Current figures are likely different, but the 2011 data offers a baseline for understanding institutional scale. ## Avoiding Mass Layoffs Federation Council sources emphasized that no mass layoffs are planned during this transition period. The institution prefers to avoid the enormous expenses associated with paying out unused vacation time and severance packages for a large number of employees. Consequently, the reduction process will be handled incrementally to maintain organizational stability and morale. ## Scope of Federal Reform The mandate extends beyond the legislative chambers to include territorial bodies of federal government agencies and arbitration courts. This comprehensive approach suggests a coordinated effort to shrink the state bureaucracy across multiple sectors. By targeting both judicial and legislative offices, the government seeks a uniform reduction in the national civil service footprint. ## Future Operational Outlook The success of these cuts will depend on the ability of the Duma and Federation Council to maintain legislative functions with fewer personnel. Observers should monitor whether these administrative changes lead to measurable improvements in efficiency or if they create operational bottlenecks. The long-term impact on government service quality remains to be seen. ## Sources covering this story - https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/11/06/russia-s-state-duma-and-federation-council-reportedly-to-cut-administrative-staff-by-15 — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._