A historic wave of departures from the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), coupled with drastic cuts undertaken by the administration of President Donald Trump, is putting great pressure on the agency's pension system.
According to internal sources cited by The Washington Post, former CIA employees are facing delays in receiving their pensions, while the agency is experiencing an unusual number of retirements and resignations.
The exact figures remain classified, but current and former CIA officials say the pace of departures is unprecedented in the agency's recent history.
The phenomenon is part of a broader wave of departures that has swept the US federal administration following measures taken by the Trump administration to reduce the number of employees and public spending.
However, the situation is particularly sensitive for the CIA. The agency's employees often serve in high-risk areas, while their work is largely conducted in secret and rarely receives public attention.
Furthermore, the work culture at the agency has taught employees not to publicly express their dissatisfaction or concerns, making the real extent of the departures and their consequences difficult to measure.
The wave of retirements and resignations raises questions about the CIA's capacity to retain the experience and expertise accumulated over the years, while delays in processing pensions add to uncertainty for former agency employees.
