Cabinet numbers explode: 2.8 million euros cost per month!

Cabinet numbers explode: 2.8 million euros cost per month!

Vienna, Österreich - On April 7, 2025, the current government, consisting of the coalition of ÖVP, SPÖ and Neos, took up its office with a total of 364 cabinet members. This shows that the personnel costs for the ministries and their rods were a hot topic from the start. Compared to the previous government, which employed 241 employees, these are 123 additional employees. While the total monthly costs of the government offices are 2.8 million euros, critics report high expenses in times when savings are required. According to vienna.at this government is considered the most expensive in Austrian history.

The deputy club chief of the Greens, Alma Zadic, criticized the high numbers in the ministerial cabinets and emphasized that cuts are also made in social and climate -drawn areas. Zadic called for more transparency about the expenditure and questioned how a government can meet its own demands on austerity measures with such extensive structures.

detailed cost structure of the cabinet members

In the current ministries, most cabinet members under Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner (ÖVP) work with 35 employees. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner, who employs 29 employees, and Chancellor Christian Stocker, whose staff consists of 28 people. These figures make it clear that numerous ministries have extensive personnel resources.

• Ministry of Defense: 35 employees
• Interior Ministry: 29 employees
• Chancellery: 28 employees
• Minister of Transport: 25 employees
• Minister of Economics: 25 employees
• Minister of Labor: 17 employees, additional 9 for the State Secretary

In addition, 102 employees for press and public relations work are employed in the Federal Chancellery. Another critical point comes from Neos General Secretary Douglas Hoyos, who emphasizes the responsible handling of taxpayers' money in the ministries.

A look at the past

The increasing personnel requirements and the high costs are not a new phenomenon. During the Sebastian Kurz's chancellorship, there was a cost explosion in the area of ​​government staff, which according to Kontrast.at by 2020 daily 90,000 euros. In the period of Kurz and Vice Chancellor Strache, the annual personnel costs have risen from 25 million euros to 32.7 million euros, which is primarily due to the significant increase in the political cabinet.

The government often refers to the high number of employees of former interior ministers to justify itself. Nevertheless, the opposition, including the Greens, remains dissatisfied and calls for a review and reduction of cabinet members considering the economic situation. The pressure on the government of showing itself transparently and dealing more efficiently with resources will grow in view of the current austerity measures in society.