A cohort of approximately 30 high-ranking civil servants and politicians is advocating for a sweeping overhaul of Germany’s federal administration, raising critical questions about bureaucratic efficiency and public trust. The proposal, detailed in a five-page paper commissioned by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS) and reported by “Welt am Sonntag” calls for a drastic reduction in the size and modernization of federal ministries, alongside a significant decrease in the sheer number of federal agencies – currently numbering 946.
The “Circle for State Modernization” as the group identifies itself, proposes consolidating personnel management functions within a central agency under the Federal Office for Administrative Affairs and centralizing IT infrastructure within the ITZ Bund. The critique centers on a perceived bloat within the bureaucracy, arguing that a substantial portion of new hires over the past decade have been directed towards administrative purposes rather than core governmental functions. Currently, leadership and central administration constitute nearly 20% of the federal workforce.
The paper’s authors contend that this expansion has paradoxically eroded governmental effectiveness. While personnel expenditures have doubled in the last ten years, public trust in the state has plummeted to a nadir. This apparent disconnect is fueling concerns about misallocation of resources and diminishing returns on investment in the public sector.
The call for reform has resonated within the Bundestag. Ralph Brinkhaus, former parliamentary group leader and now spokesperson for the Union faction on Digital Affairs and State Modernization, emphasized the necessity of consolidating services in personnel and IT, highlighting the prevalence of redundant and inefficient structures. “We need to move away from double, triple and even sixteenfold structures. We can no longer afford it” Brinkhaus stated. He further stressed the importance of fulfilling the ambitious state modernization chapter outlined in the current coalition agreement, urging its implementation within the current parliamentary term.
The initiative, however, is likely to face significant hurdles. Resistance from vested interests within the bureaucracy and the complexity of coordinating reform across numerous agencies could prove challenging. The proposals also raise questions about potential job losses and the need for comprehensive retraining programs to mitigate any negative impact on federal employees. Ultimately, the success of this proposed modernization will hinge on overcoming these obstacles and demonstrating a tangible improvement in the efficiency and responsiveness of the German federal administration.
