So the federal government employs an all-time high of 2.15 million people. This largest-ever federal payroll will grow by 153,000 people in 2010.
The Administration indicates that this will drop in 2011 as temporary census workers will reduce headcount by 80,000. Of the 2.15 million, 1.43 million are civilian (non-military) workers. Remarkably, this figure does not include Postal employees.
In a balanced government scenario, the lion’s share of these government employees would work in the states. There, they would be closer to their benefactors, where bureaucracy could be checked by common sense and watchdog taxpayers.
As a frame of reference, 2.15 million people is roughly the population of Houston, Texas.
