The United Kingdom’s latest step in civil service reform is striking both in scale and symbolism. The decision to cut 2,100 civil service jobs ~ almost a third of the Cabinet Office workforce ~ sends a strong message: the government is serious about reshaping the civil service and reining in administrative costs. But while this reform effort is being championed as a rational move toward efficiency, it also invites important questions about execution, impact, and long-term vision.

On the surface, the rationale appears sound. The Cabinet Office, which has swelled significantly since 2016, reflects a civil service that has grown to meet the demands of Brexit, the Covid-19 pandemic, and a series of governance challenges. Downsizing, in theory, could eliminate duplication, streamline operations, and reallocate resources to front-line services such as education, healthcare, and policing. In an era of tight public finances, such goals are politically........

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