Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass proposed laying off over 1,600 city workers as it faces a nearly $1 billion budget deficit.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the budget proposal would reduce 5% of the city’s workforce.

LA To Institute Mass Layoffs Of City Workers In Wake Of $1 Billion Deficit https://t.co/8ZgYnWU2D1

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) April 25, 2025

From the Los Angeles Times:

At the Los Angeles Police Department, more than 400 workers would be targeted for layoffs, all of them civilians, according to figures prepared by city budget officials. The number of police officers would continue on its gradual downward trajectory, with new hires failing to keep pace with attrition.

By July 1, 2026, the LAPD would have 8,639 officers — the lowest level since 1995, according to city budget officials.

Five years ago, the department had about 10,000 officers. Last week, the department reported that it had 8,735.

Bass, during her State of the City address on Monday, described the layoff strategy as “a decision of absolute last resort.” In recent weeks, she and other city officials have been lobbying Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state Legislature to provide a relief package that would stave off most or even all of those job cuts.

🤔 Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on Monday proposed laying off more than 1,600 government workers in an attempt to close a nearly $1 billion budget gap pic.twitter.com/MgdkPIwPO1

— DailyJobCuts . com – Layoffs / Job / Economy News (@dailyjobcuts) April 22, 2025

REPORT: Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass Said Monday The City Faces A Near ONE BILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT AS TAXPAYERS FLEE.
She Plans To Lay Off Over 1,600 Staff Members.
Bass Is Seeking A State Bailout.
No Word On Whether Activist Federal Judges Will Step In To Stop The Mass Firings! pic.twitter.com/OeHPvyCEAX

— John Basham (@JohnBasham) April 22, 2025

Per Fortune:

In an address to the city council, Bass called the municipal workforce the “city’s greatest asset” but said cuts were needed as City Hall wrestles with uncertainty in Washington, higher costs for worker salaries and benefits, a slowing economy, and the daunting work of rebuilding the affluent Pacific Palisades community.

“We have a very difficult budget to balance,” Bass said. She called her decision to propose job cuts a “last resort.”

David Green, president of Service Employees International Union, Local 721, which represents over 10,000 city workers, said the union would be looking for new funding sources and other alternatives to slashing jobs.

“We’re not going to allow the out-of-touch bureaucrats … to balance the budget on the backs of city workers,” Green said in a statement.

Late last month, Bass and the city council appealed to Sacramento for nearly $2 billion in disaster recovery aid as the city faces a projected deficit that Bass’ office pegged at nearly $1 billion. She plans to return to Sacramento this week to seek additional state funds that could reduce the proposed layoffs.

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