The French government, under the leadership of Emmanuel Macron, is facing a significant financial challenge, with national debt exceeding 3.3 trillion euros and a public deficit approaching 170 billion euros in 2025.

One of the key measures proposed is to reduce the number of civil servants by not replacing one out of every three who retire, a strategy that was reintroduced by Françoise Bayrou.

This plan aims to eliminate approximately 120,000 positions, a proposal that had previously been put on hold due to backlash from the 'gilets jaunes' protests, which underscored the importance of public services.

In June 2025, Amélie de Montchalin, the Minister of Public Accounts, began discussions on this issue, signaling a notable shift in the government's approach to civil service staffing.

In response to this fiscal crisis, the government is exploring workforce reductions as a strategy to achieve over 40 billion euros in savings.