Interior Ministry Reduces Spending on Asylum and Administrative Personnel

The budget for Austria's Interior Ministry is set to see only a slight increase this year, primarily due to significant cost-saving measures in the asylum sector. According to data obtained from informed sources, the ministry's spending in the asylum chapter will decrease from 788 million euros to 693 million euros. This reduction is attributed to a decline in the number of individuals requiring basic support, which has dropped by one-third since early 2023, leading to the operation of only eight federal quarters instead of the previous thirty.

Looking ahead to 2026, the ministry anticipates further reductions in asylum-related expenses, projecting a budget of 621 million euros in response to an expected decrease in asylum applications. Currently, around 62,000 individuals are receiving basic support.

While the asylum budget is being trimmed, the security budget will experience a slight increase from 4.01 billion euros to 4.16 billion euros. Overall, the ministry's total budget will rise marginally from 4.84 billion euros last year to 4.85 billion euros this year, despite not fully utilizing the previous year's budget.

The Interior Ministry is characterized by its significant personnel requirements, with 75% of expenditures in the security budget allocated to staff. However, the ministry has announced plans to cut costs in its administrative functions. In the central office, only one out of every three vacant or currently open positions will be filled. Importantly, there will be no reduction in personnel on the ground; in urban areas such as Vienna, there is even potential for the creation of additional positions within police stations. Recruitment efforts for new police officers will continue unabated.

Further savings will come from reducing overtime in the ministry's central administration. Last year, the ministry recorded a staggering 5.6 million hours of overtime. Spending in areas such as public representation, events, and public relations will also see cuts. Additionally, reductions are planned for travel budgets and training programs, although essential operational training for security personnel will remain unaffected.

Another area under review for potential savings is the ministry's vehicle fleet, where the government had previously hoped to undertake modernization efforts. However, the recent budget constraints have hampered these plans.