The government of Javier Milei has initiated a new phase of voluntary retirements in decentralized agencies with the aim of reducing the size of the State, eliminating unnecessary expenses, and deepening the organization of public accounts. The initiative is coordinated by the Ministry of Deregulation and State Transformation, led by Federico Sturzenegger.
More than 2,300 workers have already joined the voluntary severance programs launched in 2026. In the Casa Rosada, they assure that the process will continue to expand in the coming months and do not rule out incorporating new agencies into the scheme, in line with the campaign commitment to move towards a smaller, more efficient, and sustainable State for Argentinians.
National Roadway is a success story used by the Government.
The so-called "chainsaw," which has become one of the central symbols of the administration, aims to reduce bureaucratic structures, eliminate expenses deemed unnecessary, and improve the efficiency of the public sector. Within that strategy, voluntary retirements have consolidated as one of the main tools chosen by the government to advance without generating large-scale labor conflicts.
Among the most significant cases are the National Road Directorate and ANSES. In the first agency, nearly 1,000 severances were recorded, while in the second, the figure reached approximately 1,170 workers. From the ruling party, both processes are highlighted as the most successful so far, as they represent around 10% of the total workforce of each agency.
The policy has also been applied in Radio and Television Argentina (RTA), the National Civil Aviation Administration (ANAC), the Mint, and the state-owned company Belgrano Cargas y Logística. In all cases, the goal was to reduce operational costs and move towards smaller and more efficient structures.
Now the government is preparing a new phase that will include the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) and is studying the opening of similar programs in PAMI, an agency that has a workforce of around 11,000 employees. Additionally, other agencies remain under analysis for future restructurings.
Javier Milei alongside Federico Sturzenegger.
The scheme proposed by the government allows for permanent savings for the State without resorting to massive layoffs. The agreements include economic compensations and establish that those who join cannot return to work in the public sector for five years. According to national officials, in many cases, the fiscal savings generated allow for the recovery of the cost of the agreement in less than a year.
According to the latest report from INDEC, the national public administration and state-owned enterprises accounted for a total of 276,104 employees in March 2026, representing a year-on-year decline of 6.3%. Between voluntary retirements and non-renewed contracts, since Milei took power, more than 65,000 positions within the state structure have already been eliminated.
