Can you guess the largest five Federal government departments by employee count?

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
her209

her209

No Lifer
Oct 11, 2000
56,336
11
0
In an election year where the growth of government and the national debt is a major concern of the voters, can you guess the top five largest departments by employee count?

Answers: http://govcentral.monster.com/careers/articles/402
As of June 2007, those departments were:

Department of Defense: 611,658
Department of Veterans Affairs: 205,542
Department of Homeland Security: 128,791
Department of the Justice: 103,479
Department of the Treasury: 101,146
 
Linflas

Linflas

Lifer
Jan 30, 2001
15,395
78
91
I'm sure those numbers are highly accurate. That link you provided says that HHS has 53,783 employees but oddly enough if you go to the HHS website and add up their numbers they have 124,221 employees.
 
V

Vette73

Lifer
Jul 5, 2000
21,503
9
0
Linflas said:
I'm sure those numbers are highly accurate. That link you provided says that HHS has 53,783 employees but oddly enough if you go to the HHS website and add up their numbers they have 124,221 employees.
Click to expand...


His link uses 2007 numbers and also maybe his numbers are for civial service while the web-site list ALL employees.
 
Scotteq

Scotteq

Diamond Member
Apr 10, 2008
5,276
5
0
her209 said:
In an election year where the growth of government and the national debt is a major concern of the voters, can you guess the top five largest departments by employee count?

Answers: http://govcentral.monster.com/careers/articles/402
As of June 2007, those departments were:

Department of Defense: 611,658
Department of Veterans Affairs: 205,542
Department of Homeland Security: 128,791
Department of the Justice: 103,479
Department of the Treasury: 101,146
Click to expand...




Actually: United States Postal Service:

At September 30, 2009, we had 623,128 career employees and 88,954 non-career employees, substantially all of whom reside in the U.S.
Click to expand...

http://www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/ar09html/ar_2_016.htm



But that's OK - I'm sure your sources had their reasons for leaving this Government Organization off the list.
 
C

Craig234

Lifer
May 1, 2006
38,548
350
126
brandonb said:
Homeland security has over 100k employees? How in the hell did that happen? Why?
Click to expand...

You didn't realize the 'money is no object for our security' agenda has a price, that this is a major win for the industry? Ever hear of the 'military-industrial-congressional complex'?

Welcome to small government, government-cutting politicians.

It's terrible how many times I've seen them argue badly there's no problem with this spending because 'the constitution clearly calls for defense'. I guess there can't be too much, then.

You say we don't need X for billions of dollars? The constitution calls for defense.
 
Scotteq

Scotteq

Diamond Member
Apr 10, 2008
5,276
5
0
Scotteq said:
Are you asking or telling?

I merely said "they must have their reasons". Nice leap to conclusion, though.
Click to expand...



..Must have their reasons: http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/cgs041.htm


Reason: The US Department of Labor counts the USPS (and the actual Military, as opposed to civilians who work for whichever military agency) separately.


Nice to have a nice, non partisan discussion with respectful people, though.
 
Linflas

Linflas

Lifer
Jan 30, 2001
15,395
78
91
her209 said:
I'm not seeing it... you must be talking about this page.

http://www.hhs.gov/about/whatwedo.html
HHS Employess -- 64,750
Click to expand...

Yes that is the page, 64K is the correct number, my mistake. I didn't realize that number was derived from the individual entities listed below it, I thought they were in addition to the 64K. DoD is comprised of all the uniformed services (excluding the Coast Guard) as well as the civilian components so I would expect it to be the largest. Keep in mind that DHS combined quite a few agencies that were once part of other departments including the US Coast Guard, Secret Service, INS, and Customs in addition to TSA which is really the new piece that didn't exist prior to the creation of DHS.
 
B

Balt

Lifer
Mar 12, 2000
12,673
482
126
brandonb said:
Homeland security has over 100k employees? How in the hell did that happen? Why?
Click to expand...

It had a bunch of pre-existing agencies brought under its umbrella when it (DHS) was created.

But yeah, it still seems like a lot. I think its creation was a bit of a knee-jerk reaction, and it hasn't really paid off. The idea was to create better communication between agencies, and I don't think it has accomplished that.
 
C

Craig234

Lifer
May 1, 2006
38,548
350
126
Balt said:
It had a bunch of pre-existing agencies brought under its umbrella when it (DHS) was created.

But yeah, it still seems like a lot. I think its creation was a bit of a knee-jerk reaction, and it hasn't really paid off. The idea was to create better communication between agencies, and I don't think it has accomplished that.
Click to expand...

I think part of the reason was to just 'sound like they're doing something', consistent with their having the issue of anti-terrorism as a major political agenda.

And usually in these situations, it's an opportunity for shifting power around to their liking in ways that are more difficult without the 'crisis' to allow it.
 
Linflas

Linflas

Lifer
Jan 30, 2001
15,395
78
91
Balt said:
It had a bunch of pre-existing agencies brought under its umbrella when it (DHS) was created.

But yeah, it still seems like a lot. I think its creation was a bit of a knee-jerk reaction, and it hasn't really paid off. The idea was to create better communication between agencies, and I don't think it has accomplished that.
Click to expand...

It most definitely was. The Bush administration initially resisted the idea of creating a new Department but they were beat up on it politically from both sides of the aisle and ended up buying into the idea.
 
Hayabusa Rider

Hayabusa Rider

Admin Emeritus & Elite Member
Jan 26, 2000
50,879
4,268
126
The surprise for me was the Veteran Affairs. Didn't realize they came in second. I figured 4th, but that was just a guess.
 
B

bfdd

Lifer
Feb 3, 2007
13,312
1
0
Craig234 said:
The Post Office is not a 'government agency', and receives its own funding, not a government budget funding it. It's not a tax dollar issue.
Click to expand...

You could not be more wrong. USPS is very much so a government agency, in fact it's pretty much the only agency referenced in the constitution. Also, the USPS is the second largest employer next to Wal-mart here.
 
B

Balt

Lifer
Mar 12, 2000
12,673
482
126
Hayabusa Rider said:
The surprise for me was the Veteran Affairs. Didn't realize they came in second. I figured 4th, but that was just a guess.
Click to expand...

And as far as I know, they are still doing a substantial amount of hiring. The financial costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will last long after the last troops have left. We'll need to take care of some of the guys that got sent over there for the rest of their lives.
 
Hayabusa Rider

Hayabusa Rider

Admin Emeritus & Elite Member
Jan 26, 2000
50,879
4,268
126
bfdd said:
You could not be more wrong. USPS is very much so a government agency, in fact it's pretty much the only agency referenced in the constitution. Also, the USPS is the second largest employer next to Wal-mart here.
Click to expand...


It's a government agency, however the bulk of it's funds comes from the service it provides, not from the general fund.

In this context it makes more sense to exclude it simply because if funding is an issue it isn't comparable on a per employee basis. Well, that's how I see it. s
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom