Exit packages for civil servants and staff at taxpayer-funded public bodies in the UK have surged to over £336 million in the last fiscal year (2025-26), more than doubling from £153 million the previous year, according to an audit of government accounts.
The audit, conducted by the Daily Mail, found that 6,000 former employees received these "golden goodbyes." This increase follows a decade-long trend of swelling headcounts within Whitehall departments and linked agencies, which grew by a third between 2016 and 2026, adding approximately 139,485 roles.
This staffing surge in central government departments and associated bodies was at a rate three times higher than the rest of the public sector, which saw a 9.4% increase over the same period. Consequently, the total Whitehall workforce now stands at around 557,825, up from 418,340 in 2016, driving the annual civil service wage bill to approximately £22.5 billion.
The audit highlighted several substantial severance packages. One senior bureaucrat in the Department for Environment received between £300,000 and £350,000. Hundreds of other former staff received packages exceeding £100,000, with 25 individuals receiving more than £200,000.
This trend comes to public attention following the recent disclosure that former Cabinet Secretary Sir Chris Wormald received a severance package estimated at around £500,000 for his 14-month tenure. The Cabinet Office has yet to publish its latest accounts, which would include this figure.
The energy department and its associated public bodies led in severance payouts, distributing over £74 million to 880 former staff. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport followed, paying out £46 million to 749 former employees, many of whom were from the BBC and other linked agencies. The Department for Transport awarded £44.5 million in exit packages to 1,043 individuals.
Critics have voiced concerns over the scale of these payouts, with some describing them as a "slap in the face" to taxpayers, particularly as the overall tax burden is at its highest in decades. Conservative MP Greg Smith commented that such payments, made while citizens face rising costs, appear disconnected from taxpayer reality. Representatives from the TaxPayers' Alliance have called for caps and stricter controls on these exit packages, suggesting that "the gravy train is still running full steam ahead."
A government spokesperson stated that efforts are underway to reduce the number of back-office civil servants and redirect funds to frontline services, asserting that these upfront costs will yield long-term taxpayer savings.